Seoul's police chief Kim Kwang-ho has been charged with negligence over the deadly Halloween crush in 2022, that killed nearly 160 people.
According to Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office, South Korean prosecutors have indicted Kim, charging him with contributing through negligence.
Kim is the highest-ranking police official charged in connection with the crowd crush.
According to the investigation team, authorities, including the police, did not devise safety measures even though dense crowds made an accident likely, and
did not take appropriate steps after calls for rescue started coming in.
Kim, along with 22 other police, rescue and district office officials were referred by a special investigation team to the prosecution on charges related to the government’s inadequate response to the stampede. A special investigation team referred the accused in January last year.
As the chief of the SMPA, it was alleged that he did not take necessary measures such as deploying sufficient police forces and ensuring proper command and supervision” on the day of the crush, the statement said.
“Kim, along with the chief of the Yongsan police station and the head of the Yongsan Ward office who are currently on trial, collectively caused the deaths of 158 individuals and injuries to 312 individuals as a result of professional negligence,” read the statement.
Meanwhile, families of the victims said they regretted the prosecution’s lengthy decision-making process before charging Kim.
“Chief Kim must immediately step down from his position and face trial,” the families said in a statement. “President Yoon Suk-yeol must dismiss Kim immediately,” it added.
