Justice Party: "President Yoon said no problem leaving Cheong, but responding by phone during heavy rain is outrageous"

On the 9th, when record-breaking heavy rain fell in the central region including the Seoul metropolitan area, a road near the College of Education at Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, collapsed, and officials are carrying out restoration work. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Justice Party has called for a review of the disaster response system and the establishment of a proper control tower in relation to President Yoon Seok-yeol’s response to the heavy rains concentrated in the central region, during which he stayed at home instead of visiting the site.

On the 9th, Justice Party Deputy Spokesperson Yae Yun-hae stated, "During record-breaking heavy rains not seen in 80 years, President Yoon Seok-yeol stayed at home and issued instructions over the phone," adding, "There were 8 deaths and 6 missing persons in Seoul and Gyeonggi, and the scale of damage to residents of semi-basement homes, traditional markets, and small business owners was so severe that it could not even be fully assessed. Yet the president claimed to have taken a ‘multifaceted response’ from home, which is simply outrageous."

Deputy Spokesperson Yae criticized, "When leaving the Blue House with a fully equipped control tower function, it was said that all national security issues could be handled without any problems even in Yongsan. But when a disaster-level heavy rain came, which citizen could trust a president who only gave instructions over the phone from home? If the presidential office’s response that the home and the situation room are no different is true, it means that even in national disaster situations such as war, natural disasters, or disease, the only thing President Yoon Seok-yeol can do from Yongsan is issue instructions by phone."

He concluded, "The government must review the disaster response system and establish a proper control tower," and warned, "President Yoon Seok-yeol should keep in mind that disaster damage cannot be prevented by phone calls made from home."