Yang Hyang-ja: "No 'Ramyeon Brothers' in the Government Questioning... Let's Not Be Embarrassing Adults"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Yang Hyang-ja, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, urged an urgent assessment of the situation of children left in blind spots of care due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), saying that "society and the state failed to protect these children" in relation to the Incheon Ramen Brothers fire incident.

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 18th, Yang said, "The 10-year-old and 8-year-old brothers, who were alone at home, started a fire while trying to cook ramen," adding, "The firefighters who first found the brothers said that the older brother seemed to have pushed the younger brother under the desk and wrapped the surroundings with a blanket to create a protective barrier, trying to save his younger brother until the last moment."

He said, "There are many testimonies that these brothers did not receive proper care at home. There are also reports that their single mother was booked without detention on charges of neglect and abuse of the children," adding, "The hardship of the mother who gave birth at a young age and raised the children alone deeply touches my heart. However, the weight of life of the small children who grew up under that mother and had to endure hunger pains me even more," and was momentarily speechless.

Yang emphasized, "While parental irresponsibility was a major factor, apart from that issue, our society and the state failed to protect these children," and urged, "We must urgently assess the situation of children who are usually in vulnerable situations, including those who do not use care classrooms and those whose situation is even less understood due to school closures and online education."

He also pointed out that questions about these children were not raised during the government-wide questioning session the previous day because they were overshadowed by allegations of preferential treatment in military service for the son of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae. Yang said, "Yesterday, government-wide questioning on education, social, and cultural fields was conducted, but there was no mention of these two children or the difficulties faced by children during the COVID-19 situation. I feel sorry and devastated," adding, "As a mother who raised two children, as a member of the National Assembly, and as a leader of the ruling party, I am deeply ashamed." He continued, "My son has also completed his military service. It is not that the issue of leave during military service of a cabinet member’s son is unimportant," and added, "Let us no longer be shameful adults."

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