Inspection of Disaster Response and Public Service Discipline
Prime Minister Minseok Kim has ordered an emergency inspection in response to reports of inappropriate responses by some local governments amid worsening damage from heavy rainfall.
The Prime Minister's Office announced on the 22nd that Prime Minister Kim had urgently directed the Government Joint Public Service Discipline Inspection Team (Public Service Discipline Management Office) to conduct an inspection after issues were raised regarding the disaster response of certain local governments, including Guri City and Sejong City. The inspection team plans to examine whether the disaster response systems of the relevant local governments functioned properly and whether there were any problems with the discipline of the public officials involved.
Media reports have alleged that Baek Kyunghyun, the mayor of Guri, and others held a picnic and enjoyed singing and dancing while on emergency duty during the heavy rain. In Sejong City, there has been criticism that the disaster command center was unaware for 23 hours after a citizen was swept away by a torrent and went missing.
Meanwhile, President Jaemyung Lee, in his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held earlier that morning, emphasized, "I want to see strict action taken against public officials who behave irresponsibly or indulge in drinking and entertainment at disaster sites where people's lives are at stake."
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