President Lee: "How could anyone do such things to the victims' families... Is this even human?"
Calls for a thorough investigation into the national disaster, clear accountability, and full support for the bereaved families
President Lee Jaemyung, marking the second anniversary of the Osong underpass disaster, stated, "There are many anti-social remarks insulting the victims of the tragedy," and requested, "Please respond sternly with a zero-tolerance policy within the limits permitted by law."
During his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held at the Yongsan presidential office that day, President Lee said, "I cannot understand how anyone could do such things to the families of the suffering victims," adding, "Is this even human?" Lee Jinsook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, who was excluded from attending the meeting since last week's Cabinet session, was absent from the meeting that day.
He also emphasized that such tragedies must not be repeated. President Lee said, "I urge the relevant authorities to do their utmost to conduct a thorough investigation into the national disaster, clarify accountability, and provide full support to the bereaved families."
President Lee further stated, "It is the nation's duty to protect the lives and safety of its people, and civil servants who are specifically responsible for these tasks are obligated not to make mistakes. However, due to the failure to fulfill these obligations, many people fell victim to the disaster." He added, "I pray for the souls of the victims and offer my condolences to the bereaved families."
He continued, "With heatwave and flood damages expected in the future, I urge civil servants to faithfully carry out their essential duties of protecting the lives, safety, and livelihoods of the people in their respective areas of responsibility."
On the day before the second anniversary of the Osong disaster (the 14th), President Lee visited the accident site, received briefings from the Ministry of Environment and North Chungcheong Province on the causes of the embankment collapse, the progress of the flooding incident, and improvement measures. He stressed that local and central governments must clearly distinguish between their respective responsibilities and shared tasks, and that accountability should be assigned by unit. He reiterated that loss of life due to poor management must be strictly punished.
President Lee asked whether there were any aspects that needed to be addressed not only through manpower but also structurally and systemically, and emphasized this point. The Osong disaster occurred at 8:27 a.m. on July 15, 2023, when heavy rainfall and the collapse of an embankment led to the flooding of the Gungpyeong 2 underpass in Chungju. Fourteen people died and sixteen were injured in the accident.
President Lee also asked Kim Younghwan, Governor of North Chungcheong Province, about detailed matters such as areas at risk of flooding in the province. In addition, President Lee checked on the progress of investigations related to the disaster and the demands of the bereaved families, while once again stressing that fatalities caused by poor management must be strictly punished.
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