South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s People Power Party (PPP) and the opposition Democratic Party (DP) have agreed to push for a parliamentary investigation into the Oct. 29 Halloween tragedy in Seoul’s Itaewon district that claimed the lives of 156 people in a stampede.
Although the government had initially refused to cooperate, claiming that it would only accept a commission if the police investigations were not sufficient to clarify what happened, it has finally given in on condition that the budgets are approved in the National Assembly.
Thus, under the agreement, a special 18-member parliamentary committee, headed by a representative of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), will carry out the investigation, which has nine DP members, seven from the PPP and two from minority parties, the Justice Party and the Basic Income Party, respectively.
Thus, the process, which may be extended upon agreement, will last about 45 days, with its respective hearings, and other complementary activities will also be carried out, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
