Belated Apologies, Evasive Administration, and Even Jokes... Public Opinion Continues to Worsen

Minister of the Interior Sang-min Lee's Late Apology Sparks Resignation Debate
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Points Out "Inadequate Disaster Preparedness," Says "Investigation Results First"
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Faces Controversy Over Jokes and Smiles at Foreign Press Conference

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min attended an emergency briefing on the Itaewon disaster held at the National Assembly on the 1st and is explaining his remarks./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

There was no preparation, and the response was delayed. The apology was inadequate, and the measures were insufficient. Public opinion is worsening.

According to the 112 emergency call records and announcements from the government and police, the circumstances of the Itaewon disaster are pointing towards a 'man-made disaster,' but responsible leaders are nowhere to be seen. Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who faced backlash after saying, "Even with police and firefighting personnel deployed, it would have been difficult to resolve," is now expected to resign.

On the 2nd, Minister Lee met with reporters at the main gate of the Seoul Government Complex and, regarding calls for his resignation or dismissal, said, "Who among political appointees cares about their position?" and added, "I will do my best in my current role." About his apology statement made the previous day at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, he said, "Right now, we need to focus on managing the accident and comforting those affected, so I have no other thoughts."

At the Public Administration and Security Committee, Minister Lee said, "As the minister in charge, I offer my sincere apologies. I regret not being able to carefully consider the feelings of the bereaved families and the public." However, criticism arose that the apology was late and lacked a statement expressing "deep responsibility as the minister in charge," suggesting an attempt to evade responsibility. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon even shed tears while mentioning the bereaved families at a press conference the day before. However, regarding criticism of inadequate disaster preparedness, he responded, "It is not the right time to comment until the investigation results are out." On plans for an internal audit of Yongsan District's insufficient measures, he said, "Our department will investigate whether we fulfilled our responsibilities, but the conclusion will come from the investigation."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is wiping away tears while mentioning the bereaved families during a statement on the Itaewon incident at City Hall on the afternoon of the 1st, three days after the Itaewon tragedy occurred. (Photo by Yonhap News)

It has also been revealed that Seoul's disaster response system was inadequate and that the safety management manual for an event without an organizer did not function properly. The first citizen report stating "It feels like we are going to be crushed" was made at 6:34 p.m., and although 11 danger reports were received, the police recorded that only four cases received "on-site action."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also drew attention during a foreign press briefing the previous day when a simultaneous interpretation error occurred; he made jokes and smiled. An NBC reporter asked again, "Was it wrong to be there? In a situation where it seems no one is at fault, where does the responsibility of the Korean government begin and end?" When an official from the Prime Minister's Office apologized, Prime Minister Han replied with a pun, "What is the first and last responsibility for something that is so hard to hear?" The joke made by the prime minister was not translated into English.

Foreign media unanimously agree that this incident was not a natural disaster but was caused by poor security and safety management. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the police investigation into whether people pushing or pulling others at the scene on the day of the disaster caused the accident was "highly unusual." Online, a man wearing a rabbit headband was identified as the cause of the accident, and the police revealed they were tracking him. Criticism of the government's defensive attitude toward the disaster continues.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is answering reporters' questions at a press conference with foreign correspondents regarding the 'Itaewon incident' held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 1st.
(Photo by Yonhap News)

The government’s use of the term "accident" instead of "Itaewon disaster" and the neutral term "deceased" instead of "victims" is also claimed to be an attempt to dilute responsibility. Kim Sung-ho, head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "We use terms like victim or casualty when the perpetrator's responsibility is clearly established, but right now, it has not been objectively confirmed or clarified."

The government initially announced it would hold Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meetings daily starting the day after the disaster, but after a series of controversies over mistakes made by officials, it revised the plan to hold meetings "as needed."