With "Efforts to Improve Manuals and Systems"
Opposition "Urges Enactment of Special Law"
On the 30th, the ruling and opposition parties pledged to work on institutional improvements to prevent the recurrence of the Itaewon tragedy during the first anniversary memorial held at the National Assembly Library.
Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo, People Power Party Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok, Democratic Party Floor Leader Hong Ik-pyo, Justice Party Floor Leader Bae Jin-kyo, and Lee Jeong-min, Chairperson of the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Council, along with other attendees, are observing a moment of silence at the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster 1st Anniversary National Assembly Memorial Ceremony held on the afternoon of the 30th at the National Assembly Library Auditorium. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
At the event, lawmakers representing each party, including Kim Yong-pan of the People Power Party, Choi Hye-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Eun-ju of the Justice Party, Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party, and Kang Sung-hee of the Progressive Party, read a declaration titled "Memory and Commitment," stating, "We will identify and improve the fundamental problems that led to the tragedy and revise laws and systems to ensure that such an incident never happens again in our society."
Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said in his memorial speech, "I feel indescribable pain and self-reproach for failing to prevent the tragedy," adding, "We bury the victims in our hearts and pledge again and again to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again." He continued, "Since that day, South Korea has been gradually changing. Awareness of new types of disasters and accidents has increased, and efforts are being made to improve manuals and national systems to prepare and prevent them in advance, so that the state is present at all times and places."
Yoon emphasized at the end, "Our National Assembly must refrain from political strife and continue to move toward more complete and effective measures that the public can trust."
Democratic Party lawmakers called for the enactment of a special law. Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, urged, "I hope we can join hands to agree on the passage of the Itaewon Tragedy Special Act. We must no longer keep the bereaved families and survivors waiting. It is time for the National Assembly to take action," adding, "What comfort can politics that fails to uphold human decency offer?"
Kim Gyo-heung, chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and a member of the Democratic Party, also said, "The Itaewon Tragedy Special Act must be passed in the December National Assembly session," adding, "The special law is the starting point for creating a safe country. Beyond criminal accountability, we must find the structural causes of the tragedy."
In response, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo said, "There can be no concept of 'completion' in the National Assembly's role to protect the lives of the people," and requested, "Regardless of party positions, please do your best to reach an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties to pass the special law for protecting citizens' lives and preventing recurrence."
About 50 bereaved family members and survivors of the tragedy also attended the memorial hosted by the Public Administration and Security Committee. Lee Jung-min, an executive committee member of the 10·29 Itaewon Tragedy Bereaved Families Association, urged, "We must listen to the voices of the 159 South Korean citizens who became stars in the sky, their families, and the people who simply want to live their daily lives," and called on everyone present to "support the passage of the special law with sincerity."
Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo, People Power Party Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok, Democratic Party Floor Leader Hong Ik-pyo, Justice Party Floor Leader Bae Jin-kyo, and Lee Jeong-min, Chairperson of the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Council, along with other attendees, are waiting for the event to begin at the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster 1st Anniversary National Assembly Memorial Ceremony held on the afternoon of the 30th at the National Assembly Library Auditorium. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
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