Overview
- The joint audit found no officers were specifically assigned to public safety in Itaewon on Oct. 29, 2022, as police resources shifted to protests near the relocated presidential office.
- Auditors concluded police and local authorities failed to plan for expected Halloween crowds and that key emergency response systems did not function properly.
- The report criticized the police’s internal probe for ending without a formal report or handoff, which allowed some responsible officials to retire without discipline.
- Yongsan District and Seoul City were faulted for inadequate disaster responses and administrative inaction, with Yongsan taking no measures against seven officials identified for misconduct.
- The task force, launched July 23 under President Lee Jae Myung’s direction, cited data showing a surge to 921 rallies in Yongsan in 2022 that drove redeployments away from nearby Itaewon.