Seoul Police Chief Acquitted in 2022 Itaewon Halloween Tragedy

A South Korean court has cleared former police chief Kim Kwang-ho of negligence charges related to the deadly crowd crush in Itaewon, sparking outrage among victims' families.

• The Seoul Western District Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove Kim Kwang-ho's negligence in the October 2022 crowd crush that killed 159 people.
• Kim was the highest-ranking official among more than 20 indicted, with prosecutors seeking a five-year prison term for him.
• Relatives of the victims expressed anger at the verdict, accusing the court of failing to hold high-level officials accountable for the lack of disaster planning and emergency response.
• The court had previously sentenced the former chief of the Yongsan district police station to three years in prison for inadequate preparation and response.
• Activist groups and victims' families have called on prosecutors to appeal the court's decision, labeling the ruling as dishonest and insufficient.

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