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Survivors of the Itaewon disaster and families of the victims attended a public hearing on the government investigation today (12th).

Pointing out that the irresponsible words of the authorities about the disaster were secondary harm, he emphasized that there is no greater healing than finding out the truth. 



This is reporter Ahn Hee-jae.



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The bereaved families who watched the two hearings and one public hearing from the audience sat at the conference room as statements today.



They denounced the government's overall poor response, including emergency rescue, identification of victims, confusion in transport, and controversies over secondary abuse.



[Choi Seon-mi/Victim's bereaved family: Why couldn't it be done according to the manual and instructions, and what was the reason for the decision!

I have questions and anger about how my child became a child who shouldn't be remembered.]



He endured the malicious comments, but said that the authorities' irresponsible remarks hurt.



[Kim Chorong/Survivor: The second offense to me was the words of the minister, prime minister, and members of the National Assembly.

After the disaster, I collapsed for the first time while watching the first briefing by the Minister of Public Administration and Security.] Even though I



wanted to meet other bereaved families and share their sorrow, I resented that I couldn't get help from the government.



[Kim Ho-gyeong/Victim's bereaved family: I asked for the contact information of the bereaved family in the same area, but they replied that they could not share it because it was personal information.

I will forward my contact information to other bereaved families...

.]



[Survivor: It is very important to share the same sorrow and comfort each other.

The government did not organize such gatherings.

This is also a secondary offense.]



The Itaewon merchant, who said he should have saved at least one more person and suffered from guilt, knelt down instead.



[Nam In-seok/Itaewon Merchant: If you can't stop it, you can't sleep when you see death in front of you, and if you discuss it well so that it doesn't become a vain death...

.]



The members of the special committee also had tears in their eyes throughout the testimony.



Both the ruling and opposition parties apologized to the bereaved family for pointing out that only political strife ensued, and that no one took responsibility properly and the truth was not revealed.



Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min, who demanded a confrontation from the opposition party, and Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Hyun-young, a party to the Dr. Car controversy, did not attend amidst a struggle between the opposition parties.



The special committee plans to hold a plenary meeting early next week to finalize its activities after adopting a report on the results of the parliamentary investigation.



(Video coverage: Yang Doo-won · Lee Chan-soo, video editing: Chae Chul-ho)