South Korea: Police Officer Investigated For Halloween Crowd Crush Found Dead

A South Korean police official targeted for investigation following the deaths of 156 people in a Halloween night crowd crush in downtown Seoul has been found dead in his home.

The police official, identified only by his surname Jeong, was in charge of intelligence affairs at the Yongsan Police Station covering the city’s Itaewon entertainment district where the tragedy unfolded on October 29.

He was found dead at his Seoul home by a family member on Friday, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported, citing unnamed police officials.

Yonhap reported; “Jeong has been facing suspicions that after the tragedy, he ordered the deletion of an internal intelligence report giving prior warnings of a possible safety accident during the Halloween period in a suspected attempt to cover up inaction.

“Charges raised against him included abuse of authority, destruction of evidence and professional negligence resulting in death,” the news agency reported, adding that the officer was suspended from duties on Wednesday.

Yongsan Police Station, a fire station, and local authority offices have been raided by investigators as part of a probe into failures by officials in the Itaewon area to respond effectively to reports of overcrowding on the night of the tragedy, which also left about 200 people injured.

At least 100,000 people had flocked to the Itaewon area to celebrate the first post-pandemic Halloween parties, and neither local authorities nor the police had planned measures for a crowd that large.