Former Yongsan Health Center Chief Receives Suspended Sentence in Appeal for Falsifying Itaewon Arrival Time

Charged with Falsification and Use of Official Electronic Records
Original Sentence of 10 Months in Prison, Suspended for 2 Years, Upheld

Choi Jae-won, former head of the Yongsan District Health Center in Seoul, who was tried on charges of instructing staff to falsify the actual arrival time at the scene of the Itaewon crowd crush incident to make it appear earlier than it actually was, has also received a suspended sentence in his appeal trial.

The Seoul Western District Court Criminal Appeal Division 2-2 (Presiding Judges: Jeong Sungkyun, Lee Hyunwoo, Lee Dongsik) held a sentencing hearing on the 16th for former director Choi, indicted on charges of falsifying and using official electronic records, and upheld the original verdict, sentencing him to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspension. The court stated, "There are no new circumstances to warrant changing the penalty, and the sentencing of the original trial does not appear to be unreasonably heavy or light beyond acceptable limits."

Choi Jaewon, then director of the Yongsan District Health Center in Seoul, is appearing at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul in November 2024. Photo by Yonhap News

Choi was brought to trial on charges of falsifying five reports by stating that he arrived at the scene of the Itaewon crowd crush in October 2022 earlier than he actually did.

Choi's defense argued that the reports in question were merely internal documents for recording overtime work; however, the court did not accept this claim. The court stated, "The defendant claims that the Itaewon disaster dispatch and work reports were intended for internal use, but they were drafted under the titles of certifications or reports," and added, "In general, certifications and reports are prepared as evidence for external audits or for submission to administrative agencies when documentation is required."

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