Ruling Party: "Budget and Staffing Support for Itaewon Disaster Commission"... Nam In-soon Chokes Up, Saying "A Heavy Heart"

Commission's term extended through September next year
13.28 billion won expected to be allocated in next year's budget proposal

Nam In-soon, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker who chairs the party’s special committee on the October 29 Itaewon disaster, said on October 23, “The fourth October since the disaster has already arrived, but the work of uncovering the truth and establishing accountability remains unfinished. I feel a heavy heart again this year,” her eyes welling up.

Nam said, “The Special Investigation Commission on the Itaewon Disaster has faced difficult conditions for its investigation. It took considerable time to secure basic materials because of delays and lack of cooperation in submitting documents by institutions under investigation. In the early stages, the inquiry focused on individual cases, which limited its ability to establish the responsibility of state agencies and the structural causes of the disaster.” She added, “We must now devote the extended period of the commission’s work entirely to uncovering the truth.”

The commission’s term has been extended through September 2027. Nam said, “Although its term has been extended, the commission still lacks investigators and is having difficulty securing seconded public officials. The budget for next year also does not include the funding needed for the extended term. The Democratic Party will continue to monitor the commission’s investigative work and do its utmost to support it through to the end, from providing budget and staffing support to improving systems to guarantee victims’ rights and prevent a recurrence.”

At a meeting on October 22 between Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok and bereaved families’ groups, including the Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association, “the main topics of discussion were requests to increase the commission’s budget and extend its term,” Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Gye-won said. “The Democratic Party will take up these requests and consider additional funding in the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.” The commission’s budget for next year is expected to be 13.28 billion won.

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