Former Seoul Mayor Kim Kwang-ho of the 'Itaewon disaster' is innocent of the first trial..."It's hard to predict the disaster".

[Anchor]
Former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Kim Kwang-ho, who was handed over to trial for failing to take appropriate measures in anticipation of crowds during the Itaewon disaster, was acquitted in the first trial.

The court judged that it was difficult to predict the disaster only by what former Commissioner Kim was briefed on.

Reporter Bae Min-hyuk reports.

[Reporter]
The court acquitted Kim Kwang-ho, former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, of charges of professional negligence, saying he could not predict the disaster and responded immediately after learning about the accident.

As the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is in charge of the entire city, he has no choice but to rely on the Yongsan Police Station's information report
Looking at the
report, it was determined that it was not possible to grasp the information that there was an accident concern or need to be prepared.

He also explained that he ordered various departments to establish safety measures in advance, and that it is difficult to affirm that the instructions at that time were only unrealistic or abstract.Referring to the fact that Kim ordered the dispatch of a police task force even after receiving a report on the accident

, it is difficult to say that the damage has increased due to Kim's professional negligence.

Former personnel education manager Ryu Mi-jin and former 112 situation team leader Jeong Dae-kyung, who were the situation managers of the Seoul Metropolitan Government at the time of the accident, were also acquitted.

The court explained that it was a professional negligence for former section chief Ryu not to take proper measures to prevent delays in reporting while working out of the situation room, but it is difficult to say that this did not prevent casualties.

In addition, the former situation team leader Jeong also properly spread the "Code Zero" report, the highest stage of dispatch, but it was difficult to properly recognize the situation because the Yongsan police officer who was dispatched to the scene reported it as the end.

Earlier, the court sentenced former Yongsan chief Park Hee-young, who was also handed over to trial on charges of professional manslaughter, not guilty, saying he was not obligated to establish a safety plan, and former Yongsan chief Lee Im-jae was legally responsible for predicting and responding to the accident.

I'm BAE MINHYUK of YTN.

a photographer; Shim Won-bo
Design; Ji Kyung-yoon