The “Special Investigation Committee for the Truth and Prevention of Recurrence of the Itaewon Tragedy” held its first meeting on September 23 and began its full-fledged activities. It has been 22 months since the tragedy occurred and four months since the National Assembly passed the "Special Act on the Guarantee of the Rights of Victims of the October 29 Itaewon Tragedy and a Fact-finding Investigation and Prevention of Recurrence."

After the first meeting, the special investigation committee met with the bereaved families to hear their opinions, and decided to accept applications for a fact-finding investigation from October 2.

The special investigation committee held its first committee of the whole on the same day at its conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul. Three standing members, Song Ki-chun, a professor at Chonbuk National University School of Law, Lee Sang-cheol, an attorney at law firm Minju, and Wee Eun-jin, an attorney at law firm Min, and six non-standing members, including Kim Moon-young, an assistant professor at Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Bang Ki-seong, chairman of the Korea Disaster Prevention Association, Yang Sung-woo, an attorney at law firm Jihyang, Hae Ah-rim, an attorney at immigration law firm, Jeong Mun-ja, a member of the National Assembly Ethics Review Advisory Committee, and Hwang Jung-geun, an attorney at law Firm Sobaek, were all present.

At its first meeting, the special investigation committee elected Professor Song, who served as the chairman of the Presidential Truth Commission on Deaths in the Military, as its chairman.

“There were aspirations from the bereaved families, victims, and the public to clearly identify the causes and progress of the Itaewon tragedy, strictly apportion responsibility, and reorganize the system to prevent the tragedy from recurring, but the government’s response was very slow,” said Song. ”We will fulfill our responsibilities more thoroughly now that our departure has been delayed.” He also added, “We call on the government and the National Assembly to take special responsibility for ensuring that the work of the special investigation commission is expedited.”

On the same day, the committee voted on the "Rules on Applying for a Fact-finding Investigation.”

Under the rules, bereaved families of victims of the Itaewon disaster, those who suffered physical, mental and economic damage from the Itaewon disaster, those who participated in emergency rescue and recovery outside of their duties, and those who operated businesses or worked near the scene of the tragedy can apply for a fact-finding investigation from the 2nd of next month to June 30th of next year.

The deadline for activities of the special investigation committee is one year, and it can be extended by three months.