Order to Withdraw 5 Minutes Before Uiamho Accident... Controversy Over Deployment of Non-Expert Elderly for "First-Time Task"

Photo by MBC Newsdesk capture.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Following the capsizing of three boats on Uiam Lake in Chuncheon the previous day, resulting in one death and five missing persons, it has been revealed that most of the deceased and missing were elderly 'contract workers' employed by Chuncheon City Hall.

On the 7th, MBC reported, "There were no official public officials on the Chuncheon City Hall environmental boat that capsized on Uiam Lake; only five contract workers were on board."

According to the report, these workers were not specialized personnel equipped to handle disaster situations such as floods but were responsible for collecting trash. Their ages were identified as two 68-year-olds, one 59-year-old, and two 56-year-olds.

They had been working for about 70,000 won per day, cleaning trash from places like Uiam Lake, and this was their first time being assigned to work on the artificial aquatic plant islands.

On the morning of the 7th, the police boat that went missing due to an overturn accident on the 6th at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, Gangwon, was found above Gyeonggang Bridge on the Bukhan River in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and rescue teams and helicopters are conducting search operations.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The three boats that capsized while attempting to secure the artificial aquatic plant islands against drifting were quickly sucked in through the No. 6 sluice gate of Uiam Dam.

As a result of this accident, contract worker Mr. Lee (68) died, and five others went missing.

Given their advanced age and lack of expertise, this was a highly dangerous task for them, and Chuncheon City Hall stated that it issued a withdrawal order five minutes before the accident occurred.

However, the exact circumstances regarding who ordered the artificial aquatic plant island work and whether Chuncheon City Hall’s withdrawal order was properly and timely executed have not yet been confirmed.

One of the contract workers said, "We are not people who move on our own accord," adding, "We do not act without instructions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.