Itaewon Disaster Joint Investigation Team Concludes Activities After 14 Months

Indictment of Former Yongsan Fire Chief Choi Seongbeom
Three Secondary Offenders Indicted and Detained
Remaining Cases Handed Over to Police

The joint prosecution-police investigation team tasked with uncovering the truth behind the Itaewon disaster concluded its activities on the 30th, 14 months after its launch in July of last year.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on this day that the "Joint Investigation Team for Fact-Finding of the Itaewon Disaster" would cease operations in accordance with the revised Criminal Procedure Act and other new regulations. Of the cases investigated at the request of the bereaved families' association, special investigation committee, and individual family members, those where charges were difficult to substantiate were dismissed the previous day, and matters requiring continued investigation were handed over to the National Police Agency on the same day.

On the 29th, three days before the Public Prosecution Service's launch, the prosecution flag at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, is fluttering in the wind. 2026.9.29 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The joint team had been formed to compensate for the limitations of the Special Investigation Committee on the Itaewon Disaster, which lacked compulsory investigative powers. Although the special committee was established in September 2024, it faced criticism for its inability to conduct compulsory investigations such as search and seizure, thus hindering efforts to establish the facts. President Lee Jaemyoung met with the families of social disaster victims on July 16 of last year and promised to organize a fact-finding investigative body comprising both prosecutors and the police. The joint team was established two weeks later, on July 30.

Based at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, the team was led by chief prosecutor Ha Junho as its inaugural head and consisted of about 20 personnel from both the prosecution and the police. The Criminal Affairs Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office directly supervised the team. The team investigated all major suspicions, including the causes of the disaster, rescue activities, the appropriateness of the response, and also handled cases of secondary victimization of victims or their families.

The investigation into responsibility for the disaster response led to the indictment of Choi Seongbeom, the former chief of the Yongsan Fire Station. On April 24, the team indicted the former chief without detention on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury. This was the conclusion of a reinvestigation into a case in which non-prosecution had previously been decided in 2024. The team judged that the former chief had been able to recognize the risk of an accident due to crowd density but failed to take necessary measures, and further failed to respond adequately and in a timely manner with rescue operations after the disaster occurred. Meanwhile, Lee Bonghak, the former field command team leader who was also under investigation, was not prosecuted.

In regard to secondary victimization of victims and bereaved families, a total of three individuals were indicted and detained. On January 16, a judicial scrivener who had posted numerous defamatory writings related to the disaster was put on trial while in custody.

Some suspicions involving the heads of major organizations and public officials concluded with non-prosecution. The joint team determined that there was insufficient evidence to indict the former National Fire Agency chief (acting) for dereliction of duty as head of the Central Emergency Rescue Command, as well as the former head of Yongsan-gu District Office for charges of evidence destruction related to replacing a mobile phone after the disaster.

Allegations of dereliction of duty by officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for failing to address false reports during the National Assembly investigation, and professional negligence resulting in death and injury by the Seoul mayor for failure to take necessary actions prior to the disaster, also resulted in non-prosecution. The joint team explained that they reached their conclusion after reviewing CCTV footage, mobile phone forensic data, statements from those involved, and relevant legal principles.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "Throughout this time, the joint investigation team has conducted its investigation into the Itaewon disaster, which resulted in significant loss of life, through close collaboration and seamless communication between the prosecution and the police," adding, "Even after the cessation of the joint investigation team and transition to the Public Prosecutor's Office, we will strive to ensure a seamless continuation of investigations in cooperation with the police, leaving no investigative gaps."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.