South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol vetoed a bill on Tuesday that sought a new investigation into the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, following its endorsement by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP). The vetoed bill proposed establishing a special committee to reexamine the incident, which resulted in 159 deaths. The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, demanded the National Assembly reconsider the bill, arguing that the committee could undermine constitutional principles and compromise fairness and neutrality.

Han assured stronger support for the victims and their families, including financial aid and medical expense coverage. However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) opposes the bill, suggesting bias in the committee’s composition favoring the DP and noting that an investigation has already been conducted. The DP condemned Yoon’s veto, arguing it signifies a lack of accountability and effort in seeking the truth of the Itaewon tragedy.

Why It Matters

Yoon’s decision to veto the bill for a new investigation into the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush will likely exacerbate his already declining approval rating. The most recent Gallup Korea poll indicates that Yoon’s approval rating stands at 31%, with a disapproval rate of 63%. Concurrently, the PPP holds an approval rate of 36%, marginally higher than the DP at 35%. With South Korea’s parliamentary elections approaching on April 10, these figures suggest a precarious political landscape for Yoon and his party.

The families of the Itaewon crowd crush victims conducted a 0.86-mile (1.4 kilometers) march to the presidential office on Monday, marked by walking and Buddhist-style prostrations, in a public display of mourning and protest. Yoon’s veto in the face of such protests could exacerbate his declining approval ratings further. After Yoon’s veto was announced, a group representing the families of the Itaewon victims condemned the government for prioritizing financial aid over truth-seeking. They labeled the Yoon administration as an “unconstitutional government,” a sentiment that could further alienate voters ahead of the parliamentary elections.