Transcripts of reversing vehicle incident released at Seoul City Hall

“There are too many dead and injured!”

A transcript of the 119 emergency call made during the reversing car accident near Seoul City Hall was released on Thursday. The transcript captured the urgency and distress of the situation, including the caller crying.

Democratic Party Rep. Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Committee on Administration and Security, released the transcript he received from the security call center on Monday. Between 9:27 p.m. and 9:42 p.m. on Monday, 14 calls were made within 15 minutes.

“There was a major accident between passenger cars,” said the first caller. “The cars are completely destroyed and a person is lying on the road at the intersection of City Hall Station.” Although the incident was a car crash that crashed into a crowd, the caller initially believed it was a car accident. The second caller said, “A black passenger car suddenly crashed into pedestrians and many are seriously injured. More than five people are lying on the road.” When asked if the accident occurred at Shindang Station, the caller falsely confirmed “yes.” The actual accident location was City Hall Station.

Several citizens sobbed during their calls to the emergency number 119. A switchboard operator, presumably a part-time worker at a nearby supermarket, repeatedly told a caller to “calm down” and “not cry” while describing the scene in a sobbing voice.

Some callers attempted to administer first aid as instructed by rescue workers before firefighters arrived. A third caller said that when asked if he could administer first aid, he replied, “I’ll do it.” A witness, a shop owner, reported, “People ran to the collapsed people and performed CPR.”

The last call, which came in at around 9:42 p.m., expressed despair: “People are lying on the ground and only one person can perform CPR. The others are not able to do it.”

Police are investigating the driver of the vehicle surnamed Cha who was responsible for the reversing accident on Monday.

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