[Press Release] Commission Holds Policy Discussion on Improving the Procedures for Handling Deceased Victims of Disasters

National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster
Press Release
July 7, 2026

Commission Holds Policy Discussion on Improving the Procedures for Handling Deceased Victims of Disasters

Discussion focuses on measures to improve the handling of the deceased following the Itaewon Disaster, including dispersed postmortem examinations, insufficient expert participation, and violations of the rights of survivors.
Bereaved family members, civic organizations, and experts participate as panelists, enabling a multifaceted discussion.
Chair Song Doo-Hwan stated, “We will work to establish a system for handling the deceased victims that helps heal the pain of bereaved families.”

The National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster and Prevention of Recurrence (the “Commission”) held a policy discussion titled “Deaths Unmourned, Daily Life Unrestored” at 2:00 p.m. on July 7 in the 8th-floor auditorium of the Commission’s office. 

The policy discussion was organized to explore measures for improvement, as problems with procedures for handling the deceased have been repeatedly raised following major disasters, yet public attention has often been temporary and effective institutional measures have failed to become established.

The keynote presentation will be delivered by Commission investigators based on the findings of the investigations to date. The presentation will address problems identified during the Itaewon disaster, including (i) confusion in the operation of temporary mortuaries, (ii) dispersed postmortem examinations of the deceased, (iii) insufficient expert participation, (iv) violations of the rights of bereaved families as disaster victims, as well as directions for institutional improvement, including (i) a Korean model for operating a disaster fatality management and response team and (ii) measures to institutionalize K-DVI (Disaster Victim Identification) teams in the event of disasters.

The discussion will be moderated by Kim Moon-Young, a forensic medicine professor at Sungkyunkwan University and a non-standing member of the Commission. Panelists will include (i) Lee Jung-Min, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Association of Bereaved Families of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster; (ii) Jo In-Young, Co-Head of the Joint Situation Room of the Citizens’ Action Committee for the October 29 Itaewon Disaster; (iii) Professor Kim Jang-Han of Asan Medical Center in Seoul; and (iv) Yang Kyung-Moo, Director of the Seoul Forensic Science Institute.

Chair Song Doo-Hwan will emphasize, “We will review the measures presented at today’s discussion and work to establish a system for handling the deceased victims that helps heal the pain of bereaved families and earns the public’s trust,” adding, “We will walk together on the path toward a dignified recovery.” //End//