The highest-ranking police officer charged with the disaster in the Itaewon nightlife zone was Kim Kwang-ho.
The court ruled on Thursday that there was not enough evidence from the prosecution to demonstrate that Kim had ignored his responsibilities both prior to the incident and throughout the preliminary reaction.
Last month, Lee Im-jae, a lower-ranking police officer, received a three-year prison sentence for his failure to stop the world-shocking crush.
The families of the victims have strongly protested the ruling.
Only last January, more than a year after the tragedy, was Kim charged. According to the families, he ought to have been charged.
According to Yonhap, he received disciplinary punishment for the crush and was fired from his position in June.
Ryu Mi-jin and Jeong Dae-gyeong, two of Kim’s co-accused who were situation management officers on the day of the incident, were also acquitted.
The relatives of the victims stated they strongly disapproved of the decision and urged the prosecution to appeal.
The families claimed that the court lost a chance to consider the seriousness of public officials’ duty to ensure public safety and life, as well as to remind state leaders and citizens of this duty.
The court’s passive interpretation of the law and the prosecution’s inadequate investigation have postponed the punishment of the tragedy’s perpetrators and breached this.
