Song Young-gil on Gwangju Collapse Tragedy: "If the Bus Driver Had Pressed the Accelerator Just a Bit More"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an opening remark at the party-government meeting on countermeasures for the Gwangju Hakdong building collapse accident held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 17th, Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at a meeting discussing countermeasures for the Gwangju building collapse disaster, "Even if it hadn't been exactly at that bus stop, with the driver's instinctive sense, if the accelerator had been pressed just a little when something was collapsing, it was actually a situation where survival was possible."

At the 'Gwangju Hakdong Building Collapse Accident Countermeasure Party-Government Council' held at the National Assembly that day, Leader Song said, "Unfortunately, this construction site was right in front of the bus stop, and the timing matched exactly, causing this unfortunate incident."

He added, "According to media reports, many citizens filed complaints warning of the danger to Dong-gu Office, but it is frustrating why no on-site measures were taken," and said, "I have also served as mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, and if there is a construction site this large in the jurisdiction, naturally the mayor or district head should inspect the site and order management. I don't understand this."

Continuing, Leader Song said, "Many citizens feel sorrow and anger watching the disaster scene like a scene from a movie," and pointed out, "This reveals the chronic problems of our industrial sites such as negligence in site management, safety insensitivity, and overall poor management." He added, "Our party will form a task force led by Supreme Council Member Kim Young-bae to thoroughly inspect industrial accidents and disaster issues."