The Committee for Justice & Peace of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea held its extraordinary meeting at the Conference Room of the Catholic Conference of Korea on February 4, 2009.

At this meeting with the theme 'Present state of Korean economy and its problems', the participants expressed their concern for the present situation and agreed to urge the government to find out the true cause of the fire disaster, happened on the roof of a five-story building in Yongsan, Seoul, where 6 people were burn to death at the dawn of January 20, 2009. The disaster was happened as the special unit (SWAT) of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency abruptly raided into the poor and defenseless stay-in protesters who faced a forced removal from their houses, because of the so-called 'new town development'.

Praying for the victims and their bereaved families, the Committee asked the government to take a sanction against those who were responsible for the disaster.

The Committee also urged the government to serve all citizens without discrimination against the poor and weak, recognizing the fact that a true human life can be rehabilitated when the rights of the weak are preferentially respected and the social justice is properly practiced.