At the Osong Disaster Site, a Public Official Smiled "Ssiik"... Flood of Criticism: "People Died, How Can You Find This Funny?"

Reportedly Briefing the Situation at the Time
"Regardless of the Reason, I Apologize for the Lack of Caution"

A senior official from the Chungbuk Provincial Government is facing controversy after a photo showing him smiling at the scene of the flooded Cheongju Osong underpass accident spread online.

A government official smiling at the Osong underpass flooding accident site Photo by Online Community BobaeDream

On the 16th, a photo of Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong visiting the Cheongju Osong underpass site was posted on the online community Bobae Dream. The photo captured a government official smiling beside Minister Won.

The post author criticized the official's attitude, saying, "He must be a public servant, but who is he?" and "Is it funny at a site where people died?"

Netizens left comments condemning the official, such as "It’s heartbreaking to hear the stories of the deceased, yet he is smiling at the scene," and "He seems unable to grasp the situation."

On the other hand, some netizens responded, "He probably wasn’t laughing out of excitement; it seems like a malicious capture."

The official involved in the controversy is a senior member of the Chungbuk Provincial Government and was reportedly briefing Minister Won about the situation at the time.

On the 16th, he told Yonhap News, "It seems to be an unintentional moment during the briefing," and added, "Regardless of the reason, I apologize for my lack of discretion."

Earlier, at around 8:40 a.m. on the 15th, at the second underpass in Gongpyeong, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju City, Chungbuk, 15 vehicles including city buses were submerged due to river water flowing in after the nearby Miho River embankment collapsed. As a result of this accident, 12 people have died and 9 have been injured so far, and search operations are ongoing.