Truth finding of the Itaewon tragedy, the promise and efforts of the Lee Jae-myung government to prevent recurrence

The shock of the Itaewon tragedy in 2022

On the night of October 29, 2022, the tragedy that occurred in the narrow alleys of Itaewon, Seoul, plunged the entire nation of South Korea into shock and sorrow. Numerous citizens gathered at a place that had no official organizer or stage they were simply there to enjoy the festivities and momentarily set aside the stress of their daily lives. However, that night, 159 precious lives were tragically lost, hundreds were injured, and those who survived were left to live with an indelible trauma.

The Essence of the Tragedy: The Disappearance of Public Responsibility

This disaster was not simply a crowd accident. It was a structural catastrophe created by abandoned urban spaces, indifferent administration, and a national system that failed to play its role in disaster situations. The results of the national investigation and the special investigation team of the National Police Agency have made the essence of the disaster even clearer. At that time, about 100,000 people were predicted to gather in Itaewon, but due to the lack of an 'official organizer,' the police, fire department, and local government were all too busy passing the responsibility onto one another. The Yongsan District Office did not even hold a prior safety meeting, and the city of Seoul left the situation unattended without any significant response plan.

Neglect of early warnings and delays in initial response

The police focused on security around the presidential office and responding to gatherings, while deploying 52 investigators in Itaewon for drug enforcement, showing indifference to crowd management. Despite several 112 reports warning of the risk of crowd crushing, no intervention took place at the scene. Even after the incident occurred, the initial response was significantly delayed, exacerbating the damage. Ultimately, the disregard for prior warnings, the evasion of responsibility among public agencies, the incompetence of the disaster response system, and the absence of leadership in crisis situations led to this tragedy.

Declaration of Responsibility by the Lee Jae-myung Government

Promise after the regime change: The Lee Jae-myung government, which was launched in June 2025, explicitly defined the Itaewon tragedy as 'the responsibility of the state' and expressed a strong commitment not to conceal the truth. The Lee Jae-myung government clearly stated that the Itaewon tragedy is a responsibility that the state must bear, declaring, 'This tragedy is not an individual's fault, but a responsibility that the state must take on.' He did not stop at words but began to implement that responsibility with practical measures.

Beginning of Victim Support and Recovery

In June 2025, two years and seven months after the disaster, the application process for living support funds began. Family members of the victims will receive a maximum of 5.55 million won, while surviving victims will receive up to 2.77 million won in support. Along with this, psychological counseling, legal assistance, and programs for rebuilding lives are being implemented. This is not merely a financial compensation but a practical recovery measure to restore human dignity. President Lee Jae-myung instructed each local government to thoroughly guide the process to ensure that there are no cases of support being missed due to procedural omissions, emphasizing that the government should act from the victims' perspective.

National Efforts for Truth Revelation

The Lee Jae-myung government has granted extensive authority and autonomy to a special investigation committee for the purpose of uncovering the truth. Under the principle that 'the main subjects of the investigation are the bereaved families, and the state will respect their opinions to the greatest extent possible,' the government is actively cooperating in the submission of materials and practical assistance. Additionally, reforms in legislation and systems aimed at preventing the recurrence of the tragedy have begun. President Lee Jae-myung's statement that 'even in the absence of an official organizer, the state must take responsibility for prior intervention in spaces where large crowds are expected' was a declaration that rewrites the paradigm of public accountability.

The Essence of Politics: Responsibility for Suffering

The Itaewon tragedy was more than just an administrative failure. It was a test of how the state treats its citizens and how politics positions itself in the face of tragedy. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration answered that question with sincerity and action. Politics that seeks to reveal the truth rather than hide it, to share in pain rather than turn away, and to institutionalize remembrance—this is the change we are witnessing today.

Obligations of the State and the Direction of the Future

Since that day, the response of the Lee Jae-myung government to the Itaewon disaster is not merely a post-action measure regarding a single incident. It sets a new standard for how politics remembers and takes responsibility for the suffering of the people, marking the beginning of a journey toward a better society. 'The state is always by your side.' This phrase is not just a comforting word, but a declaration that is now being proven through action and systems. We will not forget this memory.