South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has faced criticism after vetoing a bill on Tuesday that aimed to launch a fresh investigation into a devastating crowd crush incident during Halloween in 2022. The tragedy, which took place in Seoul’s Itaewon district and claimed the lives of 159 people, has left the opposition and victims’ relatives outraged by the president’s decision.
Yoon’s veto came in response to the prime minister’s assertion that the bill, supported by the opposition, was politicized and potentially violated the constitution. “The pain caused by this disaster should not be exploited as a means to fuel political conflicts or undermine the constitutionality of the government’s actions,” stated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo during a cabinet meeting. He further defended the previous investigation conducted by the police and prosecutors, refuting claims of its inadequacy.
The president’s move to block the bill has drawn widespread condemnation from both the victims’ families and officials of opposition parties, who have long criticized the government’s handling of the tragedy as insufficient. One grieving mother, Park Young-soo, whose son lost his life in the crowd crush, accused the government of being “petty” by impeding the inquiry and offering financial compensation instead. “This is not what we have been fighting for over the past year,” Park expressed to Reuters.
The decision made by President Yoon Suk Yeol to reject the bill has sparked controversy, leaving many dissatisfied with the lack of a comprehensive investigation into the Halloween crowd crush incident. The opposition and victims’ families are determined to seek justice and shed light on the government’s shortcomings in their pursuit of accountability.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has vetoed a bill to launch a new investigation into a Halloween crowd crush that killed 159 people in Seoul in 2022. The bill, backed by the opposition and victims’ relatives, aimed to establish an independent panel for the probe. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo argued that the bill was politicized and potentially unconstitutional. The move has been criticized by the victims’ families and opposition party officials who believe the government’s handling of the disaster was inadequate. The government has offered financial compensation, but some families feel it is insufficient.
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