Itaewon disaster committee to file complaint against ex-President Yoon

▲ Song Ki-choon, chairperson of the National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence, speaks during a hearing in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Itaewon disaster-ex-president

Itaewon disaster committee to file complaint against ex-President Yoon

SEOUL, March 13 (Yonhap) -- A special investigation committee on the Itaewon crowd crush decided Friday to file a complaint against former President Yoon Suk Yeol for refusing to attend its hearing.

Song Ki-choon, chairperson of the National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence, announced the decision on the last day of the two-day hearing, which was held to uncover the truth behind the crowd accident that killed 159 people in the central Seoul district in October 2022, when Yoon was serving as president.

The commission had asked Yoon to show up for the Friday session of the hearing but he refused to comply due to his trial schedule. Yoon has been in custody while standing trials over his failed bid to impose martial law in December 2024 and other charges.

Song said judges in charge of Yoon's cases have adjusted his trial schedule at the request of the commission but he failed to appear at the hearing on Friday morning as previously requested.

A special law on the Itaewon disaster stipulates that failure to appear at a hearing without justifiable reason, or refusal to take an oath or testify, may result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$20,130).

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