"The Memorial Altar Is for Those Who Died Defending the Country"… Controversy Over Police Remarks on 'Arisel Fire'

Committee "How Can a Public Official Say Such Things?"
Police "Apologize to the Bereaved Family... Deeply Reflecting"

Controversy has arisen after a local police station chief made an insensitive remark at a memorial altar set up to mourn the victims of a fire at Arisel, a primary battery manufacturer in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

According to Yonhap News Agency, on the 27th, Pastor Park Cheon-eung, chairman of the "Hwaseong Factory Fire Migrant Joint Countermeasures Committee" (hereafter the Committee), and others installed a memorial altar at the Multicultural Park in Wongok-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province, to honor the deceased.

On the afternoon of the 25th, a memorial incense altar for the victims of the lithium battery factory fire in Seosin-myeon was set up at Hwaseong City Hall in Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News

The problematic remark occurred during the process of setting up the altar when the local police station chief, Mr. A, asked whether the Committee had obtained permission from the local government for the altar installation. Mr. A inquired about the local government’s approval, to which the Committee responded, "We applied, but did not receive permission."

During the ensuing conversation, Mr. A said, "Isn't the altar set up to honor those who died protecting the country?" The Committee retorted, "Should we only mourn those who died for the country?" leading to a dispute.

Pastor Park criticized, "The victims of this accident did not die because of any wrongdoing, so I cannot understand how a public official could make such a comment."

In response, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency stated, "It has been confirmed that the local police station chief made an inappropriate remark while checking the local government’s permission status at the altar site after being told that only a report was filed and permission was not granted." They added, "The individual (Mr. A) has apologized to the migrant group and the bereaved families who have suffered great pain and is deeply reflecting on his actions."

Meanwhile, at around 10:30 a.m. on the 24th, a large fire broke out at the Arisel factory in Jeongok-ri, Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong-si, resulting in 23 deaths and 8 injuries. Among the deceased were 5 Koreans and 18 foreigners (17 Chinese nationals and 1 Laotian national).