On the night of October 29, 2022, a tragic crowd crush occurred in Itaewon, South Korea, resulting in the deaths of 159 individuals. Following the incident, there was public outcry over the perceived slow response from authorities in managing the rescue efforts. Former Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police, Kim Kwang-ho, faced allegations of negligence for delaying rescue operations and ineffective command. In January of this year, he was indicted on charges related to professional negligence resulting in death and injury. However, the court’s verdict, announced recently, found Kim not guilty.
According to a report from the Korea Herald, the Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 12, presided over by Chief Judge Kwon Seong-hyu, issued its ruling on the 17th. While the court acknowledged a general disparity between the police response and the public’s expectations during the incident, it ruled that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Kim had grossly neglected his responsibilities before or during the Itaewon tragedy.
Additionally, two other defendants facing similar charges—former head of the Human Resources and Education Division, Yoo Mi-jin, and former 112 Situation Team leader, Jeong Dae-gyeong—were also acquitted in the first trial.
The prosecution had previously sought five years of imprisonment for Kim Kwang-ho, along with three years for Yoo Mi-jin and two and a half years for Jeong Dae-gyeong.
