Song Young-gil: "Hyundai Steel Must Take Responsibility for Missing Persons Search and Damage Compensation"

Visiting the Gwangju Apartment Collapse Site: "The Ruling Party Will Do Everything Necessary"

Victims' Families and Merchants Protest, "Why Did You Come Only Now?"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, is visiting the site of the newly constructed apartment collapse accident in Gwangju and attempting to meet with the victims' families.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, urged that “Hyundai Development Company must take full responsibility for the swift recovery, search for missing persons, safety, and compensation for the damages to the buyers here, putting its honor and survival on the line.”

On the morning of the 26th, Song presided over a Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting in Gwangju and then visited the site of the newly built apartment collapse accident.

He told reporters, “Hyundai Development Company must thoroughly carry out recovery and compensation for damages for the sake of its own honor, regardless of disciplinary actions.”

He added, “The families of the victims repeatedly requested that rescue operations proceed with attention to the safety of the firefighters,” and said, “I was moved by their hearts and was brought to tears.”

He also stated, “As the ruling party, we will accept the criticism from the victims’ families humbly,” and “We will do our best in the search and accident recovery.”

Furthermore, he said, “Although the amendment to the Building Management Act has passed, the Special Construction Safety Act and the Framework Act on the Construction Industry, which address subcontracting issues, are currently pending in the National Assembly,” and added, “The Democratic Party will do its best to ensure they pass through deliberation as much as possible.”

Earlier, Song attempted to meet with the victims’ families’ council at the site but was turned away.

The victims’ families’ council and merchants’ council stood in a line holding pickets, blocking the entrance to the accident site for Democratic Party officials.

When Song and others appeared, they shouted, “Why are you only showing up now? Aren’t you here just to get votes ahead of the election?” and “We don’t want to meet you.”

Some also shouted, “If Honam is the Democratic Party’s stronghold, shouldn’t you have come first right after the accident?” and “After the leaders of the Justice Party and the People Power Party have all visited, do you think we would welcome you now as if the fire is just on your feet?”

Meanwhile, after the meeting at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Song shook hands with a family representative and left the site.