Central Committee Meeting from the Oval Office to the Government Building

President Yoon Suk Yeol moved from the Yongsan Blue House to the situation room of the Seoul Government Complex to preside over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting to respond to the Halloween disaster in Itaewon on the 30th. The spokesman's office said in a press release that a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters presided over by President Yoon is underway. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min attended the meeting. Earlier, President Yoon received a number of reports of cardiac arrest in Itaewon at 10:22 p.m. on the 29th, issued the first and second emergency orders, and presided over an emergency situation inspection meeting at the Yongsan Blue House Crisis Management Center. President Yoon instructed, "Patient escort and relief are the top priorities." In addition, as ambulances and medical staff were reported to be inaccessible to the Itaewon accident site, they ordered to secure ambulance routes, dispatch emergency medical teams (DMATs), and secure emergency beds at nearby hospitals. It also ordered thorough control of all vehicles and personnel other than patient transport and treatment purposes. As of 3 a.m., the fire department confirmed 120 deaths and 100 injuries in the Itaewon disaster. There is a possibility of additional deaths among the injured.

Date: 2023-11-31

Reporter: Jeong Ho Yeon