A special investigation has been launched by South Korea's National Police Agency to determine whether or not local and regional police "failed" to respond to distress calls on the evening of October 29, when 156 people were killed and an additional 172 people were injured due to a massive crowd surge in a narrow alley in Itaewon.

Among those listed as investigation subjects are members of Itaewon's local police precinct, consisting of just 20 officers total, many of whom were present on site during the Itaewon crowd surge, attempting to send out calls for help. 

According to representatives of the Itaewon police precinct, officers on duty during the evening of the incident were dispatched to regulate crowds twice before the fatal incident occurred. The precinct chief told 'JTBC News' that they called the Yongsan Police director of operations for support once at 9:30 PM, approximately 40 minutes before the fatal incident, then again at 10:20 PM, demanding that all available personnel should arrive to respond to the escalating situation.

However, the Yongsan Police did not respond to calls from the Itaewon precinct for help until 11:36 PM, approximately an hour and 15 minutes after the distress call from the Itaewon precinct. In fact, additional police forces did not show up on site during the fatal incident until 12:20 AM on October 30, nearly two hours after the initial surge.

The officers of the Itaewon police precinct are currently trembling in fear that they could face punishment as the "culprits" behind the Itaewon tragedy. One police officer stated, "It feels as if they've thrown us [the Itaewon precinct] right in the middle of the full force of the media coverage, the anger, and the criticism. We have no choice but to take the brunt of the attacks... We have done our best for our precinct. But now that the blame is being tossed to us, I'm doubting my career as a police officer." 

Many civilians are also of the belief that commanding officers at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Yongsan District Police Office are attempting to "direct all the blame" on these local Itaewon precinct officers. In fact, many are speaking out against the danger of "bias" in the ongoing special investigation, while also demanding that police officers, fire fighters, and first responders who were present on site during the tragedy receive PTSD treatments.

On November 4, JTBC News reported that civilians from across the nation are currently showing their support for the officers of the Itaewon precinct. Gifts in the form of chicken, cakes, beverages, as well as handwritten letters are currently being delivered to the precinct from as far as Jeju island. Civilians said, "In the media and in the political arena, they are attempting to put all of the blame on the Itaewon police officers. That is not what we want to see." Others dedicated messages to the police officers reading, "We know that you struggled. We are cheering you on."