Lee Im-jae, former chief of the Yongsan Police Station, has been arrested for allegedly causing casualties through poor response during the Itaewon disaster.
Song Byeong-joo, former head of the Yongsan Police Station 112 Situation Department, who was in charge of responding to the police at the scene of the disaster, was also arrested.
The Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for them, saying, "There is considerable reason to suspect that they committed a crime, and there is a concern that the suspects will destroy evidence."
Former chief Lee is accused of increasing the loss of life by failing to prepare and respond appropriately before and after the Itaewon disaster and failing to correct it even after reviewing a situation report that falsely stated his arrival time.
Director Song is accused of not taking appropriate safety measures, such as pushing the crowds pouring out of the road onto the sidewalk despite calling 112, announcing the danger of crushing death right before the disaster.
The Police Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Edition) applied for an arrest warrant again on the 5th, supplementing additional charges after the arrest warrant for the former chief was dismissed once.