On October 17th, South Korean media reported that former Seoul police chief Kim Gwang-ho was acquitted in a first-instance trial concerning charges of criminal negligence related to the tragic crowd crush that occurred in Itaewon in 2022.

The Seoul Western District Court ruled that there was not enough evidence to hold Kim accountable for his actions during the incident. The court acknowledged a gap between the police’s response at the time and the public’s expectations but indicated it was difficult to prove that Kim had violated any clear duty of care either before or on the day of the event.

In January 2023, Kim Gwang-ho, along with 22 other officials from police, emergency services, and local government, was referred to prosecutors by a special investigative team over allegations of mismanagement during the Itaewon incident. Subsequently, on January 19, 2024, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office formally charged him with criminal negligence.

This crowd crush occurred on the evening of October 29, 2022, resulting in the tragic loss of 159 lives and leaving nearly 200 others injured. According to South Korean media, this incident represents the deadliest crowd crush in the country’s history and is the most significant tragedy since the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which claimed 304 lives.