Establishment of Support TF for Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Council within Ministry of the Interior and Safety
COVID-19 Infection Reproduction Number Exceeds '1' for 6 Consecutive Weeks... Urging Vaccination
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government is establishing a cooperative system between related ministries and local governments in response to the Cargo Solidarity's collective transportation refusal, deploying emergency transportation equipment and personnel to the maximum extent possible, while also inspecting the damage situation in key industries such as refining, steel, and automobiles to devise measures to minimize damage. Additionally, a dedicated team will be established to support the establishment of the Itaewon disaster victims' families council and to carry out memorial projects.
On the 30th, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Lee Sang-min, stated in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office, "The logistics system, a national core infrastructure, is in serious crisis due to the Cargo Solidarity's collective transportation refusal continuing for a week," and announced these measures.
Earlier, the government raised the crisis alert level to "serious" from Monday according to the Disaster and Safety Act and the crisis manual for the land cargo sector, activated the CDSCH for an integrated government-wide response, and deliberated and approved the issuance of a work commencement order for the cement sector, which has significant damage scale and ripple effects, through the Cabinet meeting.
Minister Lee explained, "If transportation operators and workers in the cement sector do not return to work without justifiable reasons, they will be subject to the sanction procedures prescribed by law," adding, "Going forward, centered on the CDSCH, we will establish a close cooperative system between related ministries and local governments to deploy emergency transportation equipment and personnel to the maximum extent possible, comprehensively inspect the damage situation by major industries, and prepare measures to minimize damage."
He also reiterated the principle of zero tolerance for illegal acts. Minister Lee said, "We will respond strictly with a zero-tolerance principle to illegal acts such as damage to cargo vehicles or illegal parking and stopping," and urged, "Cargo Solidarity should consider the seriousness of the national economy and people's livelihoods facing various complex crises domestically and internationally and cooperate so that transportation workers can promptly return to work."
Furthermore, the government decided to establish a dedicated task force (TF) within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to support the establishment of the Itaewon disaster victims' families council and memorial projects. So far, the government has processed 329 civil complaints received through the one-stop integrated support center related to funeral expenses, relief funds, and psychological support.
Minister Lee stated, "We will promptly handle the requests of the victims' families council in cooperation with related ministries," and added, "The government will prepare a comprehensive plan to fundamentally reform the national safety system by the end of this year to prevent the recurrence of the same accident."
Meanwhile, amid the COVID-19 infection reproduction number exceeding '1' for six consecutive weeks, he also urged vaccination. Recently, the number of critically ill patients has steadily increased, and the daily average number of deaths has maintained the 40s over the past week.
Minister Lee emphasized, "The government is making every effort to increase the vaccination rate during the four-week intensive vaccination period that started last week," adding, "The vaccination rate in infection-vulnerable facilities during the winter season is 25.5%, which is more than 8 percentage points higher than last week, but it is still insufficient to overcome the resurgence."
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