[The Editors' Verdict] The Reason for the Existence of Public Authority

Sometimes, when working, bad outcomes occur. It could be my fault, or the fault of a subordinate or a superior. Sometimes it’s ambiguous whose fault it is, and sometimes the result is just bad luck. Still, in many cases, someone has to take responsibility. Especially if the outcome is critical.

When faced with overwhelming consequences, human nature is to want to avoid responsibility. To confess, I have often first checked whether it was my fault when trying to identify the cause of failure (or mistake). In a healthy organization, those in charge usually take the lead in accepting responsibility. If someone tries to avoid responsibility, someone else must take it, because if a superior shifts responsibility, the subordinate must bear it. Or, if it can be overlooked, it might be easier in the short term, but eventually, a culture of evading accountability inevitably spreads throughout the organization. “Noblesse oblige” is nothing special. People in responsible positions must take responsibility.

A tragic accident occurred where more than 150 young people were crushed to death, not inside a building but on the street. A fellow reporter who received this tip initially thought it was a Halloween performance or a prank tip. That shows how unbelievable the incident was. When many people crowd into a narrow space, accidents can happen. But although Korea is a small country where people gather densely whenever something happens, such an accident had never occurred before. Was it just luck until now? Or was it because some form of adequate control (whether by public authority or private security) was in place, albeit imperfect?

The Halloween festival in Itaewon has attracted a considerable crowd every year. Although it is not an officially hosted event, it has long been established as a new culture among young people. Who should be responsible for the safety of people gathering at an event without an organizer? The answer is (though they deny it) the public officials. According to Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, public officials are servants of the entire people and are responsible to the people. The reason the state grants public authority to government agencies is to ensure the safety of the people and maintain order.

However, the statements from high-ranking officials who wield this public authority are typically focused on avoiding blame. Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who commands the police responsible for public safety and order, said, “Even with police and fire personnel deployed, it was difficult to resolve,” inviting criticism. When criticism intensified, he apologized but did not retract his original stance, questioning whether insufficient deployment of police and fire personnel was the cause. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said at a foreign press conference, “If there had been a clearer organizer, such issues could have been managed more systematically and effectively, but in the absence of that, there are realistic and institutional improvements needed in Korea’s current ‘crowd management.’”

As the higher-ups focused on avoiding blame, the field officers showed similar attitudes. Hong Ki-hyun, Director of the Police Agency’s Security Bureau, said, “They did not feel a sudden surge of crowds at the scene. There is regret about the judgment.” Regarding why sidewalks and roads were not controlled, officials from the Police Agency and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport delayed responding.

This is not about making someone a scapegoat. It is about blaming those at the top of public authority for not understanding why public authority exists.

Jeon Pil-su, Head of Securities Department