A reward of 30 million won will be paid to a citizen who provided decisive information to uncover the truth behind the Itaewon disaster in Oct. 2022, which left 159 people dead. In addition, sufferers of the disaster will be able to extend their healing leave to recover from physical and psychological harm by six months, for a total of up to one year.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 28th that a partial amendment to the enforcement decree of the "Special Act on Protection of Rights of Sufferers, Truth‑Finding, and Prevention of Recurrence of October Itaewon Disaster," which includes these measures, was approved at a Cabinet meeting.
The amended enforcement decree sets out methods and procedures for selecting those eligible for truth‑finding rewards. The recipients, who have not been identified through the media, are citizens who provided direct and decisive information for uncovering the truth. Decisive information means cases where uncovering the truth would have been impossible or markedly difficult without the information provided. The Special Investigation Committee will decide on payment through deliberation and resolution, and if it is found that the reward was obtained through improper means, it will be recovered. The total reward is 30 million won.
The conditions for extending healing leave for sufferers of the Itaewon disaster to recover from physical and psychological harm were also defined. Until now, healing leave was limited to six months. Going forward, with a doctor's medical certificate or opinion letter (prepared within 30 days of submission), it can be extended by an additional six months, allowing up to one year of healing leave.
Workers seeking to extend healing leave may apply to their employer seven days before the leave ends. Even if the leave period has already ended before May 11, when this amendment takes effect, they may apply seven days before the desired start date of the leave.
Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), said, "The government will do its utmost to the end to support sufferers of the Itaewon disaster so they can focus on recovery and regain a normal life."