▲ The Cabinet holds a meeting at the government complex in Seoul on Jan. 30, 2024. (Yonhap)

Cabinet-Itaewon bill

Cabinet passes motion requesting parliamentary reconsideration of Itaewon special bill

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a motion demanding the National Assembly reconsider a special bill mandating a new investigation into the Itaewon crowd crush in 2022.

President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to endorse the Cabinet's decision so as to exercise his veto power against the legislation that the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) railroaded through the National Assembly earlier this month.

Once Yoon endorses the Cabinet's decision, the bill will be sent back to the National Assembly.

The legislation calls for establishing a special investigation committee to reexamine the causes of the deadly crowd crush that claimed 159 lives in a narrow alley in central Seoul's Itaewon during Halloween weekend in 2022 and to ensure the rights of the victims.

The ruling People Power Party has opposed it, asserting that the special bill is unfair as it would allow the opposition bloc to dominate the committee with individuals favorable to the DP and arguing that a comprehensive investigation has already been conducted.

Civic groups, families of the victims and the DP have called for Yoon not to reject the bill, calling for a further investigation to uncover the root cause of the incident.

This would be the fifth time Yoon has exercised his veto power, with a total of nine bills rejected.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]