Eunpyeong-gu Enacts Ordinance to Commemorate Sewol Ferry Disaster Victims

First Enacted Among Seoul Districts... Memorial Includes Not Only Sewol Ferry Passengers but Also Rescuers Who Sacrificed... Passed by District Council on 22nd... Implemented in Early October

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that the "Seoul Special City Eunpyeong-gu 4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Victims Memorial and Safety Society Construction Ordinance" (hereinafter referred to as the Eunpyeong-gu Sewol Ordinance), which focuses on promoting civic awareness for memorializing the Sewol Ferry disaster victims and building a safe society, passed the district council on the 22nd and is scheduled to be implemented in early October.

This ordinance is based on the "Special Act on Relief and Support for the Victims of the 4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster," and was enacted for the first time among Seoul's autonomous districts, following the Sewol Ferry disaster ordinance of Seoul City, which was promulgated on July 16.

The main contents include ▲ the mayor's establishment of policies necessary for memorializing the Sewol Ferry disaster victims and promoting safety awareness ▲ the establishment and implementation of plans to enhance civic awareness for memorializing victims and building a safe society, as well as the execution of various related civic awareness promotion projects.

Among these, the scope of "Sewol Ferry disaster victims" is expanded beyond those who were on board the Sewol Ferry to include those who participated in rescue efforts. This carries forward the spirit of memorializing the Sewol hero, the late diver Kim Gwan-hong, who conducted frontline rescue activities as an Eunpyeong citizen. The ordinance also includes provisions related to various safety accident prevention training facilities and operations, giving great significance to institutionalizing Eunpyeong-gu's commitment to creating a safe society.

Separately, since August of last year, Eunpyeong-gu has been implementing civic safety insurance and mutual aid to support the livelihood stability of residents affected by various accidents such as natural disasters, explosions, fires, collapses, and school zone traffic accidents.

Additionally, through the active participation and activities of the Eunpyeong-gu Autonomous Disaster Prevention Corps, Safety Monitor Volunteer Group, and Eunpyeong-gu Safety Guardians, efforts are being made to prevent safety accidents and manage disasters.

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, "The enactment of the Eunpyeong-gu Sewol Ordinance lays the foundation for more substantial promotion of memorial projects for the Sewol Ferry disaster victims," adding, "If we do not merely consume past disasters as memories of sorrow but use them as an opportunity to respond to unpredictable future disasters and normalize safety management, we will become a more mature safe society."