The former Yongsan chief guilty of the 'Itaewon disaster' and the district chief not guilty...Why?

[Anchor]
Former Yongsan Police Chief Lee Lim-jae and Yongsan-gu District Commissioner Park Hee-young, who are accused of poor response during the Itaewon disaster, in which 159 people were killed, were sentenced in the first trial.

The joys and sorrows of those in charge of security and administration were mixed.

The court sentenced police officials, including former chief Lee, to prison, but acquitted officials in Yongsan-gu, including Mayor Park.

Reporter Yoon Woong-sung reports.

[Reporter]
The court made mixed judgments against police officials, including former Yongsan Police Chief Lee Im-jae, who is suspected of responding poorly during the Itaewon disaster, and district officials, including Yongsan-gu District Commissioner Park Hee-young.

The court sentenced former chief Lee to three years in prison, saying he was charged with professional negligence.

The court judged that former Chief Lee was responsible for preparing and responding to comprehensive and effective measures as the head of the police station in charge of security in Yongsan-gu.

As such, he criticized that he had to fully predict the accident and take appropriate measures, but he neglected to prepare for safety with a complacent perception, resulting in a disaster.

However, he was acquitted of charges such as requiring his subordinates to falsely record the time of arrival at the scene of the disaster.

In addition, he did not make a court arrest, saying there was no fear of destroying evidence.

Two police officers, including Song Byung-joo, former head of the 112 situation room in Yongsan, who were handed over to trial together, were also sentenced to two years and one year in prison, respectively, for increasing the damage through poor management of the situation.

On the other hand, all district officials, including Mayor Park, who were handed over to trial on the same charges, were acquitted.

The court ruled that professional negligence was not recognized because there was no obligation in the Disaster Safety Act to establish a separate safety plan for events without organizers.Even after the

accident, there were no complaints related to the crush or requests for cooperation from police and fire fighting at the district office, and even if the district office's administrative measures were delayed, it was difficult to recognize the cause and effect of the disaster.

In particular, he said that the administrative agency does not have the authority to control or disperse the influx of crowds to certain places, and that it is difficult to say that they have a specific duty of care.

The prosecution, which previously demanded seven years in prison for failing to fulfill its responsibilities, including preventing accidents, to both former Chief Lee and Mayor Park, will review the ruling and decide whether to appeal.

I'm YTN Yoon Woong Sung.

Video editing;Ahn Hong-hyun
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