Overview
- On July 16 at the Blue House, Lee formally apologized to about 200 families of victims of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking, 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, 2023 Osong underpass flooding and 2024 Muan plane crash.
- He pledged to prepare comprehensive compensation and direct support measures for the victims after listening to family testimonies.
- Lee criticized a long-standing culture prioritizing economic efficiency over safety and vowed systemic reforms to prevent avoidable tragedies.
- On July 17, he ordered the creation of a joint police-prosecutor investigation into the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush with the potential to grant compulsory powers to the special investigation committee.
- The apology represents the government’s first formal acknowledgment of state liability for the Itaewon crowd crush and the Osong underpass flooding.