It has been confirmed that Lee Im-jae, the former head of the Yongsan Police Station, who was in charge of the scene at the time of the 'Itaewon disaster', insisted on moving vehicles in a serious situation of traffic congestion in Itaewon and arrived late at the site of the disaster.
The Special Inspection Team of the National Police Agency, which is investigating allegations of poor response by the police in relation to the Itaewon disaster, found that former chief Lee managed the assembly on the day of the disaster, finished eating at a Seolleongtang restaurant near Yongsan-seo around 9:47 pm and departed for the Itaewon area in an official car. said work.
Former Chief Lee arrived at Noksapyeong Station around 10 pm just before the disaster, but as it became difficult to enter due to traffic congestion, he attempted a detour through Gyeongnidan-gil, etc.
He later arrived at Itaewon Antique Furniture Street near Itaewon Police Box between 10:55 and 11:01 pm.
The distance from Noksapyeong Station to Itaewon Antique Furniture Street is about 900m in a straight line, and it takes less than 10 minutes on foot, but it took over 55 minutes as the former chief Lee kept trying to move by car.
Arriving at Itaewon Antique Furniture Street, the former chief judged that it was difficult to enter the vehicle any longer, so he walked to the Itaewon Police Box and eventually arrived at the scene at 11:05 pm, 50 minutes after the disaster.
At this time, it was an impossible situation, with dozens of cardiac arrest patients already appearing.
However, it is known that the former chief did not drink alcohol at the restaurant where he stayed for 23 minutes.
The specific movement and actions of former Chief Lee were reconstructed by the special inspection team through statements of himself and witnesses and CCTV analysis.
Based on the movement lines confirmed by the special inspection team, the special edition that took over the case will determine why former Chief Lee insisted on moving the vehicle and whether he had adequately managed and commanded the disaster site while moving the vehicle.
In addition, the suspicion of false preparation of the Yongsan Police Station situation report, which is recorded that former Chief Lee arrived at the scene around 10:20 pm and began to take command, is also expected to rise on the investigation line.