Itaewon Special Investigation Commission Establishes Rules for Families to "Access Disaster Records"; to Take Effect Next Week

"Information disclosure requests have limits on providing records... a substantive measure"
Commission to review applications from bereaved families... records include CCTV footage and more

The Special Investigation Commission on the Itaewon Disaster to Investigate the Truth and Prevent Recurrence (Itaewon Special Investigation Commission) has established rules to help the families of disaster victims access records. Previously, they had to file information disclosure requests to seek access to materials or obtain copies, but disclosure was often restricted on grounds such as personal information protection.

Song Doo-hwan, chair of the Special Investigation Commission on the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster, speaks at the commission's 66th meeting, held on the morning of the 20th at its office in Jung-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News.

On October 20, the Itaewon Special Investigation Commission held its 66th meeting at its office in Jung-gu, Seoul, and approved a proposal to establish the "Rules on Supporting Victims' Access to Records Related to the Disaster," with some revisions. The commission plans to begin allowing access sometime next week, after promulgating the rules and preparing for the process. The records eligible for access are those related to the disaster collected and preserved pursuant to Article 77, Paragraph 2 of the Itaewon Disaster Truth-Finding Act. They may include CCTV footage showing the situation at the time of the disaster, police records on security and traffic management, and Yongsan-gu records related to disaster response.

When a victim applies to access records, the Itaewon Special Investigation Commission will review the application and decide whether to approve it. The commission may ask applicants to provide additional information if the scope of their request is excessively broad or the records they seek are difficult to identify. Access may be granted only to parts of records containing information that needs protection, such as third-party personal information. The commission's Records and Archives Division will oversee the relevant procedures.

Families of victims had previously sought access to records related to the disaster and copies of them through information disclosure requests, but disclosure was often restricted on grounds such as personal information protection and the potential impact on investigations. An information disclosure request is a system through which members of the public can ask public institutions to disclose information they have created or obtained in the course of their duties and manage, by allowing access to it or providing copies or reproductions. At a National Assembly audit of the Public Administration and Security Committee on October 6, a victim's family member identified only by the surname Kang also noted, "When we request access from public institutions such as the Itaewon Special Investigation Commission, the only responses we get are 'non-disclosure,' 'partial disclosure,' or 'no such records.'"

The Itaewon Special Investigation Commission said the new rules are a measure to realize victims' families' right to access information. Speaking to reporters after the proposal was approved that day, a commission official said, "Access support may not be perfect during implementation, but we will address any shortcomings," adding, "These rules are in no way intended to indirectly restrict victims' rights or conceal records."

Meanwhile, the Itaewon Special Investigation Commission also discussed interim findings from its investigations into five areas: the police response to the disaster in terms of security and traffic management; the adequacy of Yongsan-gu's initial response through its Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters; the circumstances surrounding Yongsan-gu's preparation, submission, and distribution of false official documents; the adequacy of the preparation and operation of disaster response manuals; and the establishment and operation of the disaster safety communications network. The commission plans to hold an interim briefing at 10 a.m. on October 27 at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, to announce its findings.

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