The building fire that killed six people in Seoul has now made it on to CNN as the investigation into the fire continues:

Six people including a police officer were killed in the blaze.

South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into a deadly fire that broke out during a police standoff with protesters, a police spokesman said Wednesday.

The Tuesday morning blaze left six people dead, including a police officer, and injured some 20 others, according to Lee Suk-hee, a Seoul police spokesman.

The fire erupted after Seoul Police Chief Kim Seok-ki ordered police commandos to storm a building where protesters were staging a sit-in against an urban development project, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The protesters had occupied the building since Monday, demanding higher compensation for the forced closures of their businesses caused by the redevelopment project.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office is investigating how the fire started, questioning commandos and protesters, according to Yonhap. Kim is also expected to be questioned for his role in the incident.

“We demand the government punish everyone responsible for the bloody crackdown that suppressed the people’s struggle for their right to live,” the families said in a joint statement, Yonhap reported.

Various groups have gathered at the site to honor the dead, call for an investigation and condemn the use of force by police.  [CNN]

Like I said before the political opposition in Korea would use this to bash Korean President Lee Myung-bak with:

In a news conference at the National Assembly Wednesday, party vice floor leader Suh Gab-won said a parliamentary inspection must verify the results of the prosecutor’s probe into the incident. He also suggested measures be drafted to prevent excessive use of police force in dealing with protests.

He blasted the Lee Myung-bak administration for what they called its “iron-fisted, hard-line rule.” He said his party will investigate the incident and find those responsible for the deaths of those protesting the Yongsan redevelopment project.

Suh also said his party plans to deal with problematic inner city redevelopment projects, saying government support for the residents should be a priority.  [KBS Global]

Well at least he mentioned something about the real problem which is the people being displace by the redevelopment projects without proper compensation.  Here is a must read about these redevelopment projects from Gusts of Popular Feeling.

Also a ROK Drop reader was kind enough to send me a couple of pictures taken from a nearby apartment of the fire which really show what a huge blaze this was:

With the announcement of the investigation I really don’t expect anything to become of it other then it being used for partisan political purposes while the root cause of the problem will probably go unaddressed.