[Exclusive] 'Osong White Paper' to Be Compiled After Two Years... Includes National Assembly Investigation and Government Response

Ministry of the Interior and Safety Begins Work on Osong Disaster White Paper
All Activities by Relevant Agencies and Bereaved Families to Be Included
Citizens' Fact-Finding Committee, Countermeasures Committee, and Investigation Results Covered

A white paper on the Osong disaster, in which 14 people died after a temporary embankment collapsed and the river overflowed due to heavy rain on July 15, 2023, will finally be produced more than two years after the incident. Under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, neither a disaster safety investigation nor the publication of a white paper took place, but after the new administration took office, relevant agencies have begun to take action.

According to the National Assembly and government ministries on November 3, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has recently begun producing a white paper that will comprehensively document and preserve the causes of the Osong disaster and the government-wide response. This comes about two months after Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung promised a disaster safety investigation and the publication of a white paper on the Osong disaster at the National Assembly in September.

On July 15, 2023, during heavy rain, a temporary embankment collapsed causing river flooding, resulting in 14 deaths at the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, Chungbuk. Photo by Yonhap News

The Osong underpass flooding incident occurred at the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong on July 15, 2023. At around 8:40 a.m., the embankment of the Miho River near Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, broke, causing river water to flow into the underpass and flooding 17 vehicles, including a city bus. Fourteen people died in the accident.

Afterward, the prosecution indicted more than 40 top officials and staff from relevant agencies, including North Chungcheong Province, Cheongju City, the Geumgang Basin Environmental Office, and the police. However, a white paper meant to prevent a recurrence of such a disaster was never produced.

North Chungcheong Province did attempt to take action, but controversy arose when it announced plans to produce a white paper under the name "7·15 Lessons" instead of using the term "Osong disaster." At the time, groups such as the Osong Disaster Countermeasures Committee criticized this as an attempt to "erase the traces" of the disaster. The following year, the provincial council even cut the budget for the white paper, citing the lack of a concrete plan and failure to consult with bereaved families.

The white paper, finally being produced more than two years later, is now being handled by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Scheduled for publication in March next year, it will cover all activities of the national and local governments, related organizations, victims, and bereaved families over the two years and eight months since the disaster. It will also include the activities of the Citizens' Fact-Finding Committee and Citizens' Countermeasures Committee, as well as investigations, prosecutions, court rulings, and the results of the National Assembly investigation.

Most importantly, the white paper will closely examine and document the response and support activities of related agencies at the time of the accident, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Multifunctional Administrative City Construction Agency, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, North Chungcheong Province, and Cheongju City. In this process, opinions will be collected through surveys or interviews with bereaved families and expert roundtable discussions.

Separately, the government is also moving to uncover the truth about the Osong disaster and develop countermeasures. In September, Minister Yoon pointed out at the National Assembly the inadequate response of local government leaders at the time and explained that the warning measures taken against them after the disaster were "due to insufficient disciplinary procedures for elected officials." He also stated, "We will ensure psychological support and memorial projects for bereaved families, and conduct a joint public-private investigation into the causes of the disaster by February next year to prepare institutional improvement measures."

The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee has also adopted the "Osong Disaster National Investigation Report" and has in effect begun a reinvestigation. The report includes the opinion that "Governor Kim Young-hwan of North Chungcheong Province could be charged under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for issues related to the temporary embankment and river management of the Miho River." A government official stated, "We aim to investigate the awareness of urban safety systems among the government and local authorities, clarify responsibility and causes for the accident, and prevent such incidents from happening again." The official added, "Depending on the case, practical measures such as a renewed prosecution investigation are also expected."