Park Hong-geun, Crisis Response via Yoon's Call "Is the President a Stealth Fighter or What"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] On the 10th, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol’s response, likening him to a 'stealth aircraft' undetectable by radar, for not visiting the site of the heavy rain and instead giving instructions over the phone from his residence.

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Emergency Measures Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

At the Democratic Party emergency committee meeting that morning, Floor Leader Park said, "While the people were in danger throughout the night, the control tower, the National Crisis Management Center, did not operate in a timely manner," and added, "Handling the crisis situation over the phone?does the president think he is some kind of stealth aircraft?"

He stated, "The record-breaking heavy rain in 80 years resembles a national disaster situation," and criticized, "In the midst of that chaos, the president was nowhere to be seen. Criticism erupted asking what the president was doing while Seoul was flooded, and on social media, the term 'anarchy' was circulating."

He further pointed out, "The president’s most important duty is to protect the lives and safety of the people. If heavy rain was forecasted for Seoul and the metropolitan area, as the commander-in-chief, he should have thoroughly prepared in advance and led the response in real time."

He also denounced the presidential office’s explanation that "wherever the president is, that is the situation room" as "nonsense," raising his voice, "Is Acrovista in Seocho-dong the crisis management center? Instead of correcting mistakes, they are only repeating excuses with baseless claims."

Floor Leader Park urged, "This incident should be an opportunity to properly establish a crisis response system," and called for "creating an excessively thorough response manual."