Families of Missing Persons "Mayor Must Accurately Determine Cause of Accident"
Blue House Petition "Uiamho Accident, Man-Made... Chuncheon Mayor Should Take Responsibility and Resign"
On the 10th, the fifth day since the Uiamho ship capsizing accident, search team members are conducting a search for the missing near Gangchon Bridge on the Bukhan River in Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon Province. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Amid a public petition calling for the resignation of the Chuncheon mayor over the casualties caused by the ship capsizing accident at Uiamho Lake in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, the families of the missing persons have stated that the petition is not based on facts and expressed their stance that "the mayor should not resign."
At a meeting with reporters on the 9th, the families of the missing said, "The person who must accurately identify the cause of this accident and manage the aftermath is the Chuncheon mayor," and raised their voices, saying, "He must take full responsibility until the end; resignation is out of the question."
They emphasized, "It is true that the post on the public petition board asking to 'accurately investigate the cause of the accident' was written by the bereaved families of the victims, but the resignation petition is understood not to have been written by the families of the missing."
They added, "We do not know who requested the resignation, but it is unpleasant and infuriating that the accident is being used for political and malicious purposes," expressing their frustration.
They demanded measures to prevent recurrence, including ▲strengthening worker qualifications ▲completion of safety education ▲and revision of the dam officials' work manuals.
On the 10th, the fifth day since the Uiamho ship capsizing accident, firefighters are recovering a missing person they found while searching near the Bukhangang River by Deokduwon-ri, Seomyeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon Province, close to Deokseon Waterfall. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, on the 7th, a post titled "Regarding the Chuncheon Uiamho Accident, We Demand the Resignation of the Chuncheon Mayor" was posted on the Blue House public petition board.
The petitioner claimed, "The accident occurred during the tying work of the artificial floating plant island that was swept away by the swollen water due to heavy rain. This incident is a clear man-made disaster," and argued, "Despite the water flow being about 10 times faster than usual due to the opening of the Soyang Dam and Uiam Dam sluice gates, the work was forced ahead, and to make matters worse, a public official on leave absurdly rushed to the site."
He continued, "Entering the river under such strong currents is itself irrational, and despite such a sad and infuriating incident occurring, there are absurd reports that no one gave any orders," and criticized, "Then the administrative head of Chuncheon, Mayor Lee Jae-su, should take full responsibility and resign. Is the artificial floating plant island more valuable than human lives?"
He added, "Why is there still no news of the father who rushed out for work during parental leave, leaving behind a 50-day-old child?" and said, "Whose fault is it? If all the officials keep passing the buck, ultimately the highest official in Chuncheon must take responsibility."
Meanwhile, the Chuncheon city official who went missing in this accident was found dead on the 10th, five days after the accident.
As a result of this accident, seven people went missing; by the 10th, one was rescued, four were found dead, and two temporary workers have yet to be found.
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