Song Young-gil on Gwangju Disaster: "If Only I Had Pressed the Accelerator a Bit More"... Opposition Party Demands "Apology"

Song Young-gil on Gwangju Demolition Disaster: "If Only the Accelerator Was Pressed a Little..."
Amid Growing Controversy, Calls It a "Malicious Media Disaster"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party-government meeting on countermeasures for the Gwangju construction site collapse accident held on the 17th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 17th, Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, sparked controversy by saying regarding the Gwangju building collapse disaster, "If the bus driver had only pressed the accelerator, (the victims) could have survived." The opposition parties condemned this as a 'reckless remark' and demanded an apology to the victims.

As the controversy grew, Leader Song emphasized, "This is a malicious media disaster," and stated, "I will stake my political mission on innovating the media environment."

During the opening remarks at the party-government meeting on the collapse accident held at the National Assembly that afternoon, Leader Song said, "Even if it had not been exactly that bus stop, with the driver's instinctive sense, if something was collapsing and the accelerator was pressed just a little, it was actually a situation where survival was possible."

He continued, "Unfortunately, there was a construction site right in front of the bus stop, and the timing matched exactly, which caused this tragic incident," adding, "Many citizens are saddened and angered as they watch the disaster scene that looks like a scene from a movie."

He also pointed out, "This reveals the chronic problems of industrial sites such as negligence in site management, safety insensitivity, and overall poor management," and criticized, "Many citizens reportedly filed complaints warning of the dangers to Dong-gu Office, but it is frustrating why these complaints were received but no site inspection or action was taken."

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 9th, a five-story building under demolition in Dong-gu, Gwangju, collapsed, burying a city bus stopped at the bus stop under debris. As a result, 9 of the 17 passengers died, and 8 were seriously injured.

On the afternoon of the 9th, a building under demolition in Hakdong, Dong-gu, Gwangju collapsed, causing debris to spill onto the road and burying city buses. The photo shows 119 rescue workers conducting rescue operations at the accident site.

The opposition parties raised their voices in criticism, claiming that Leader Song's remarks amounted to 'secondary harm' to the victims. Hwang Bo-seung-hee, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, issued a verbal statement that day, saying, "This is no different from secondary harm that drives a nail into the hearts of the victims of the Gwangju collapse disaster," and criticized, "Do not shift the responsibility for this heartbreaking tragedy onto innocent victims. Apologize to the victims and the public."

Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong also pointed out on his Facebook, "Blaming others even after the disaster, the ruling party leader must apologize immediately," and said, "Leader Song made remarks about the Gwangju demolition building collapse disaster that should never have been uttered."

He added, "Instead of identifying structural problems related to this social disaster and contemplating solutions and accident prevention, the ruling party leader's reckless remark that 'there happened to be a construction site, and the timing matched' is a hateful comment that kills the victims twice," and said, "Saying that if the driver had pressed the accelerator with instinctive sense, they would have survived is violence that imposes unbearable pain on the driver struggling with guilt for not saving the passengers and on their family."

He further stated, "It is typical of a party specializing in blaming others, but at least remarks that go beyond human decency should be restrained. Leader Song should apologize immediately," and warned, "The public will hold him accountable for this reckless remark."

People Power Party lawmaker Heo Eun-ah also posted on Facebook, saying, "Does the Democratic Party have a 'law of total reckless remarks'?" and added, "Before looking for the bus driver's instinctive sense, I hope you think first about the essential empathy as a politician."

As the controversy grew, Leader Song rebutted, calling it a "malicious media disaster," and said, "Today, some reporters cut out parts of my remarks and sent articles highlighting only the phrase 'if the accelerator had been pressed just a little'."

He explained on his Facebook, "I expressed my feelings that if there had been no bus stop, so the bus was not stopped at that exact time, or even if the bus passed the accident site, if there were strange signs, the driver would have instinctively taken all possible measures for the safety of the passengers."

Additionally, Leader Song emphasized, "The media today created the necessity to reform the media environment. In that sense, it is truly fortunate," and said, "I will stake my political mission on innovating the media environment."