Yongsan-gu Mayor Park Released on Bail for Itaewon Halloween Disaster: First Trial Pending

Park Hee-young (62), head of Yongsan-gu, Seoul, who was arrested and indicted for responding poorly to the ‘Itaewon Halloween disaster’, is released after five months and is tried without detention.

On the morning of the 7th, the 11th part of the Criminal Agreement of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Bae Seong-joong) cited the request for bail from Mayor Park and Won-joon Choi, former head of the safety and disaster department at Yongsan-gu Office.

The court accepted their application for bail on the condition that they submit a written oath, restrict their residence, and pay a security deposit. The exact amount of the deposit was not disclosed. The two people imprisoned at the Seoul Southern Detention Center will be released on this day at the earliest. On December 26, last year, Mayor Park was imprisoned after an arrest warrant was issued during the police investigation.

They are being tried in the first trial for causing loss of life by responding poorly to the Itaewon disaster in October of last year.

Despite being the head of a local government with primary responsibility for disaster and safety, Mayor Park was charged with not establishing or implementing an effective safety management plan in the Itaewon area during the Halloween festival and failing to properly operate a regular disaster safety situation room. There is also an allegation of making and distributing a press release that falsely states the time of arrival at the site in order to cover up the poor response (preparation and event of false public documents).

Former section chief Choi is suspected of attending a drinking party with an acquaintance on the night of the disaster and returning home without going to the scene even after being aware of the disaster.