'20s Teachers and Soldiers Dying One After Another' Kim Dong-yeon: "Nothing Has Changed 9 Months After the Itaewon Disaster"

Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province posted the following text and photo on his SNS on the 22nd.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon mourned the deaths of a teacher in her 20s and a soldier who passed away on the 18th and 19th, respectively, and lamented that even though nine months have passed since the Itaewon tragedy, South Korea has still not changed.

In a post late at night on the 22nd on his social media service (SNS), Governor Kim wrote, "A thoughtful Marine who reassured a worried friend until the day before the accident, a teacher who felt proud watching children grow up. (However) our society failed to protect these young people," expressing his sorrow.

He particularly criticized, "(The Marine) was pushed into the raging rapids without even being given a life jacket, and (the elementary school female teacher) was left abandoned amid irrational and fierce waves of complaints," adding, "Even now, there are only people asking who is responsible for the accident, but no one willing to take responsibility."

He then questioned, "How is it that things are so similar to the Itaewon tragedy nine months ago?" and asserted, "The politicians who created the current social structure, social leaders, the older generation, public officials who must bear unlimited responsibility for public safety?without exception, it is the responsibility of all of us."

Furthermore, he said, "As a politician, as part of the older generation, and as a public official, I am truly ashamed," emphasizing, "We must correct each mistake one by one and steadily build principles."

He also added, "We must now prevent the tragedy of future generations being sacrificed to past structures," and "In front of the portraits of these two young people, I firmly pledge to take the lead."

Earlier, A, a first-grade homeroom teacher at Seo-i Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, was found dead on school grounds around 11 a.m. on the 18th. As suspicions arose that A’s death was caused by malicious complaints from some parents, the Ministry of Education has formed a joint investigation team with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to verify the exact facts.

Additionally, on the following day, the 19th, Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun died after being swept away by rapid currents while searching for flood victims missing in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongbuk Province. His comrades reported that Corporal Chae could not swim.