Itaewon Victims' Families Sue Special Committee Director

The Itaewon disaster's victims' families have taken a significant step by filing a complaint against the head of the special investigation committee, accusing them of dereliction of duty and abuse of power. This action, taken as the second anniversary of the tragedy approaches, underscores the families' persistent demand for truth and accountability.

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The families allege that the investigation director, Han Sang-mi, has been using her position to interfere with the committee's work, attempting to manipulate staff and obstruct independent investigations.

The families allege that the investigation director, Han Sang-mi, has been using her position to interfere with the committee's work, attempting to manipulate staff and obstruct independent investigations. They point to the committee's failure to process investigation requests since July of last year as evidence of this alleged mismanagement and dereliction of duty.

This complaint highlights the deep frustration and distrust felt by the victims' families. They believe the special investigation committee, established under the Itaewon Disaster Special Act, is not fulfilling its mandate to uncover the truth. The families are imploring the police to conduct a swift investigation, emphasizing that only a few months remain for the committee's operations.

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The Itaewon Disaster Special Act is a law that was agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties at the time of its enactment, embodying the public's and the victims' families' desire for truth about this disaster.

From the perspective of the families and many in South Korea, this is not just a bureaucratic dispute. It is about ensuring that the lessons of the Itaewon tragedy are learned and that such a disaster never happens again. The ongoing struggle for a thorough investigation reflects a broader societal demand for transparency and justice in the face of official shortcomings.

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Given that there are only about four months left for the investigation period, we earnestly request a swift investigation.