Lee Hae-chan Evokes Sampoong Collapse Over Hangang Bus: "This Is What Happens When the Mayor Fails"

Potential Ruling Party Candidates for Seoul Mayor Gather Ahead of Next Year’s Election
Lee Hae-chan Criticizes Oh Se-hoon, Citing Sampoong Department Store Collapse
"Democratic Party Is the Only Party That Can Prevent Dictatorship"

Lee Hae-chan, a senior ruling party politician and Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, referenced the Sampoong Department Store collapse and remarked, "Watching the Hangang Bus accident brings those thoughts to mind. If the mayor does not do his job properly, this is what happens."

Senior ruling party politician Lee Hae-chan, Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council, criticized the Hangang bus accident by comparing it to the Sampoong Department Store collapse. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

According to Yonhap News on the 17th, the Democratic Roots Committee of the Democratic Party’s Seoul Metropolitan Chapter held a political academy at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building that afternoon, ahead of next June’s local elections, under the theme “Key Issues and Future Vision Proposals for Seoul.” Lawmakers considered leading candidates for Seoul mayor within the ruling party gathered to present tailored policies such as the “Seoul-style Basic Society” and “AI-based Innovative City.”

At the event, Senior Vice Chairman Lee said, “We lost heavily in the last local elections because they were held immediately after the presidential election,” adding, “Next year’s election will be held just one year after the presidential election, and the government is managing well, so public support is high.” He continued, “The party’s approval rating and the president’s evaluation are both high. The president’s approval rating exceeds 60%. I believe we will be able to manage well with that strength. I will also do my best to assist the president.”

He also voiced criticism regarding the Seoul Hangang Bus, a flagship project of current Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, a leading Seoul mayoral candidate. Referring to the Sampoong Department Store collapse, he said, “At the time, we held funerals for 500 people at once, and I felt like I attended all the funerals I would in my lifetime,” emphasizing, “This shows how important it is to run city administration properly. When I took office as Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul and visited the site, it was a complete mess.”

He stated, “Politics must be wholly truthful, sincere, and earnest. To govern a country, you must be able to comprehensively determine what is important and what needs to be done first and quickly. Only the Democratic Party can fulfill this role.” He added, “You never know when or how the other party (the People Power Party) will change. Even cutting ties would not be enough, but instead, they are busy visiting the ringleader of the rebellion in prison. How can that party ever develop?”

He went on to say, “Look at what former President Yoon Suk-yeol says in court. Isn’t it all lies?” He continued, “Since it’s another party, I can’t criticize them directly, but I have said they are not a legitimate political party. It’s not a party for the people, but a party for their own lawmakers to profit from.” He further argued, “Democratization in Korea cannot happen without the Democratic Party. The other side is a party of dictatorship, and only the Democratic Party can prevent dictatorship.”

The Hangang Bus, which began full-scale operation last September, is seen passing over Dongjak Bridge in Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Recently, there was an accident in which the Hangang Bus veered off its route and became stuck on the shallow riverbed. It was also revealed that there have been a total of 15 reports of the Hangang Bus coming into contact with the riverbed or foreign objects even while operating on its official route. Kim Sunjik, CEO of Hangang Bus Co., Ltd., which operates the Hangang Bus, stated on the 17th, “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and anxiety caused to citizens by the Hangang Bus accident,” and added, “We will secure operational safety by deploying divers upstream of Hannam Bridge to inspect the area and remove floating debris and foreign objects that could hinder vessel operation.” On the same day, Mayor Oh also apologized via social media, saying, “We are deeply sorry for causing anxiety and inconvenience to passengers.”