◀ anchor ▶
After the disaster, Yongsan Fire Chief Choi Seong-beom, who took direct command at the scene, became the subject of a police investigation.
When I asked Chief Choi, who had been struggling all night at the scene and briefing with trembling hands, to hold him accountable, not only the firefighters but also the citizens he responded that it was difficult to understand.
Reporter Taeyoon Kim will tell you.
◀ Report ▶
In 2020, before Halloween, the ‘Private-Private Joint Meeting’ was held by the Yongsan-gu Office.
Police officers and firefighters are also present.
This is a place to discuss corona prevention and safety measures.
With the same theme last year, a joint meeting was held with Yongsan Chief Fire Officer Choi Seong-beom in attendance.
At the time, Chief Choi said, “We will establish a movement posture to prepare for safety accidents during Halloween, and promptly take first aid measures in case of an emergency.”
But this year was different.
There was no joint meeting presided over by the ward office, only a meeting held by Itaewon traders.
The fire department was not even asked to attend.
[이일/소방청 119대응국장(어제)]
“When we notify the amount of presence we have at the meeting, the fire department confirms that it has not been notified.”
Regarding the reason, the Yongsan-gu Office said, “This year, there was no need to hold a public-private meeting due to the release of the Corona virus, and the reason why I attended the merchant association meeting was for publicity purposes. .”
The ward office held a Halloween countermeasure meeting the next day, but it was an internal meeting presided over by the deputy mayor, and measures against large crowds were not dealt with.
Unlike previous years, it was reported that Yongsan Fire Chief Choi Seong-beom, who could not participate in the preliminary discussion, remained in Itaewon on the day of the disaster and was dispatched to the scene immediately after the accident.
For this reason, mainly frontline firefighters, there is a backlash that Chief Choi’s criminal charges are a ‘transfer of responsibility’.
[김현기/전국공무원노동조합 부위원장]
“If only 200 police were deployed for crowd control and congestion control, wouldn’t this tragedy be prevented?”
The Fire Department of the National Civil Service Employees Union also criticized, saying, “The police work level investigation that gives pardons to those in charge of the government and the line of command betrays the wishes of the people.”
The Special Investigation Headquarters plans to continue the investigation, saying that the Yongsan Fire Station has not responded to a request for a joint response from the police who received a 112 report before the disaster.
This is Kim Tae-yoon from MBC News.
Video commentary: Choi In-gyu / Video editing: Lee Hye-ji
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