Relocation of presidential office diverted police from Itaewon before fatal crush: audit

The relocation of the presidential office to central Seoul’s Yongsan-gu under former President Yoon Suk Yeol increased the need for police deployments at nearby protest sites, leaving no officers specifically assigned to secure safety in Itaewon on the night of Oct. 29, 2022, when a horrific crowd crush killed 156 people, according to a final report from a governmental joint audit.

The joint task force, launched July 23, conducted audits of the Korean National Police Agency — including its broader Seoul and Yongsan-gu branches — as well as the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Yongsan District Office. The team concluded that police and local officials failed to properly manage safety operations on the day of the disaster, according to the report released Thursday.

According to the findings, the relocation of the presidential office, which had previously been at a more northern area of Seoul in Cheong Wa Dae, led to increased demand for police at nearby protest sites, leaving no officers assigned to the Itaewon area for the purpose of public safety on the night of the tragedy.

The audit also found that district officials, including the chief, failed to demonstrate leadership immediately after the disaster. As a result, key emergency response systems did not function properly.

Authorities said disciplinary or other appropriate actions will be sought against 62 public officials found to have engaged in misconduct during the disaster response and subsequent handling of the tragedy.

The investigation was coordinated by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, with participation from the Interior and Safety Ministry and the Korean National Police Agency under the instruction of President Lee Jae Myung, who took office on June 4.

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