'Itaewon Tragedy' National Assembly Memorial Ceremony Held: Ruling Party "Deeply Responsible," Opposition "Where Is the State?"

Attendance of Ruling and Opposition Leaders Including Speaker Kim Jin-pyo
Yong Hye-in: "An Independent Disaster Investigation Agency Must Be Established"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] On the 100th day since the 'Itaewon Disaster,' a memorial service was held at the National Assembly on the 5th. With Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo and leaders of both ruling and opposition parties in attendance, the ruling party promised to devise countermeasures, while the opposition urged the president and the state to demonstrate a responsible attitude.

The memorial service, hosted by the Special Committee for the State Investigation of the Itaewon Disaster and pursued by the National Assembly research group Life Safety Forum, was held at 10 a.m. at the National Assembly Members' Office Building.

Speaker Kim Jin-pyo said in his memorial address, "I hope that through today's memorial service, all our citizens will not forget but remember the victims who have become stars in the sky."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Speaker Kim continued, "The National Assembly announces the 'Assembly's Pledge,' prepared jointly by the ruling and opposition parties," adding, "It is a pledge to clearly reveal the causes and truth of the disaster and for both parties to work together to ensure such misfortune never recurs." He further stated, "There is a saying that justice delayed is justice denied," emphasizing, "Revealing the truth, identifying responsibility, and establishing measures to prevent recurrence are tasks that cannot be avoided no matter how much time passes. Although the state investigation has concluded, there is no deadline for remembering the disaster, identifying responsibility, and establishing measures to prevent such misfortune from happening again." In particular, he said, "We will unite our efforts to resolve institutional problems," and added, "Repeated disasters are not coincidences. We will not forget and will remember."

The People Power Party declared it will take full responsibility for the social disaster and strive to identify causes and prepare countermeasures. Jung Jin-seok, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said, "We must break the chain of continuous social disasters," adding, "I believe this is the historical task given to us."

He continued, "I understand that from the perspective of the victims' families, there have been many shortcomings over the past 100 days," and said, "The People Power Party will fulfill the responsibilities of the ruling party while looking toward the future with the bereaved families."

The opposition parties raised their voices demanding a more responsible attitude from the president.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Many things have changed and many have not over the past 100 days," adding, "The bereaved families, who were once ordinary mothers and fathers, have become fighters on the cold streets, fighting for truth-finding and punishment of those responsible." He continued, "The state, which was not beside the victims, still does not stand by the families," emphasizing, "No matter how much power tries to hide and ignore, justice will surely be restored and the truth will be revealed. We will never neglect the mission entrusted to us by the people and the bereaved families."

Lee said, "I wonder how it would have been if the president had come here today in person to mourn the victims and comfort the families," adding, "The state must take unlimited responsibility for the lives of its citizens. I hope the president, government, and ruling party keep this firmly in mind."

Lee Jung-mi, leader of the Justice Party, also said, "It is deeply regrettable that the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety still does not know what he did wrong," demanding, "At least fulfill the minimum duty. Also, the president who appointed that irresponsible minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety should acknowledge the failure in personnel and sincerely apologize in front of the bereaved families."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yong Hye-in, leader of the Basic Income Party, also said, "The deaths of 159 people should not be seen as individual accidents but as a heavy responsibility of the state and politics to ensure such a disaster never happens again," adding, "We must restore the lost trust in the state by establishing an independent disaster investigation agency with independence and expertise, sufficient investigation period, and guaranteed participation of the bereaved families."