Creation of a Safety Situation Officer Within the Party
From On-Site Visits to Legal and Administrative Support for Victims
On November 26, the Democratic Party of Korea established a Special Committee on Disaster and Accident Countermeasures to build a party-level disaster and accident response system. The initiative aims to prevent recurring disaster crises and to ensure swift and efficient on-site visits, legal and administrative support for victims, and fact-finding efforts.
At the committee's inauguration ceremony held at the National Assembly on November 26, Democratic Party leader Jung Chungrae stated, "Whether it is a large-scale disaster like the Sewol Ferry tragedy or the Itaewon disaster, any tragedy is a major disaster for the families affected. Regardless of scale, as the ruling party, we will work diligently to ensure that such man-made disasters never happen again."
He further emphasized, "While preventing accidents from occurring in the first place is of utmost importance, it is also extremely important to respond quickly and manage the aftermath to minimize damage when accidents do occur."
Yoon Kunyoung, the Democratic Party lawmaker who serves as the ruling party secretary on the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and has been appointed chair of the special committee, said, "For the first time in the party's history, we have created a disaster and accident response manual at the direction of our party leader. Until now, we have been responding to disaster and accident situations in a rather ad hoc manner, but from now on, we will respond systematically and in a manner befitting the ruling party."
On this day, the special committee announced its disaster and accident response manual. The committee plans to carry out activities such as establishing a party-level crisis management system, conducting preventive measures, fostering a culture of safety in preparation for disasters and accidents, and inspecting recovery efforts as part of the "prevention stage." It will also provide training and preparedness checks for crisis situations and conduct inspections for recurring seasonal disasters.
A new position, Safety Situation Officer, will also be created within the party. When the standing committees of the National Assembly, regional party chairs, spokespersons, or the special committee monitor disasters and accidents and share information, the Safety Situation Officer will convene a working-level situation assessment meeting.
After the working-level situation assessment meeting, if necessary, a situation assessment meeting attended by the floor leader and others will be held to decide on the establishment of a response organization, its name, the composition of its members, and the schedule for the next 48 hours. The code of conduct for party members will also be reviewed.
According to the special committee, once the disaster and accident response organization is established, it will undertake tasks such as meeting with victims and conducting on-site visits, providing legal and administrative support and setting up support teams, fact-finding, and verification and investigation.
The Democratic Party also plans to make disaster safety education mandatory for its lawmakers and candidates running in next year's local elections. Incumbent members of the National Assembly are already required to complete gender sensitivity and disability awareness training. The Democratic Party intends to add party-level disaster safety education to these requirements.
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