Former Seoul Police Chief Acquitted of Negligence

A Seoul court has acquitted former police chief Kim Kwang-ho of negligence related to the deadly Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon in 2022, which resulted in 159 fatalities. The Seoul Western District Court concluded that prosecutors failed to demonstrate a direct link between Kim's conduct and the tragedy, despite evidence of inadequate crowd control measures by the police. This ruling has sparked outrage among victims' families and advocates, who argue that it reflects a lack of accountability for high-ranking officials. In contrast, a lower-ranking police official involved has already received a three-year prison sentence for his role in the inadequate preparations leading to the disaster. Activist groups are calling for an appeal against the ruling, emphasizing the need for justice for the victims. The case has raised significant concerns about emergency response protocols and disaster management in South Korea.