Park Jinhee Urges Sincere Remembrance
"Two Years Ago Today, the Tragedy Must Not Become a Mere Administrative Task"
Park Jinhee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and a Chungbuk Provincial Assembly member, is delivering a 5-minute free speech.
The tragedy that occurred in the underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk. At the time, inside the tunnel, there were citizens struggling in the water, screaming "Save us." On July 15, 2023, the Gungpyeong 2 underpass was flooded due to heavy rain, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of 14 lives. On that day, the Korean Peninsula was experiencing a torrential rain disaster, with relentless rainfall especially in the Chungcheong and northern Gyeongbuk regions. In Cheongju, where the accident occurred, it was recorded that more than 500mm of rain fell between July 13 and July 15.
Park Jinhee, a Chungbuk Provincial Assembly member, urged that "a sincere memorial by the Chungbuk provincial government is necessary to mark the second anniversary of the Osong underpass tragedy in Cheongju."
On the 14th, Park, who applied for a 5-minute free speech, strongly criticized, "On the 3rd of this month, the installation of a memorial plaque for the Osong tragedy, which was scheduled to be placed at the entrances of both directions of the Gungpyeong 2 underpass where the tragedy occurred, was suddenly canceled the day before." She added, "The Chungbuk provincial government did not discuss the delay in the installation with the bereaved families at all and unilaterally notified them just 15 hours in advance." She emphasized that, as only two years have passed since the tragedy, it must not be forgotten or have its memory tainted. She stressed that it is a heartbreaking accident that should be sincerely remembered, with comfort and communication extended to the bereaved families.
Park pointed out, "Over the past two years, the Chungbuk provincial government has virtually ignored most of the memorial forms proposed by the bereaved families, and the installation of the memorial plaque was the first official memorial method agreed upon with them." She questioned, "Is the memorial for the Osong tragedy by the Chungbuk provincial government merely an administrative formality or just an annual event?"
She continued, "The memorial for the Osong tragedy is a pledge not to forget and never to allow such a tragedy to happen again." She urged, "Through the memorial for the Osong tragedy, we must uncover the causes and truth of the disaster, punish those responsible, and establish measures to prevent recurrence."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
