[Comprehensive] Byeon Chang-heum's Controversial Remarks on 'Guui Station Accident'... Ruling Party Says "No Need to Resign," "An Excellent Candidate" Drawing the Line

Labor Sector Urges Moon to Withdraw Nomination

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport nominee Byeon Chang-heum is arriving at the hearing preparation office set up at the Seoul Regional Land Management Office in the Government Complex Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on the 21st. / Gwacheon - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Byun Chang-hoom, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is embroiled in controversy over his remarks that seemed to blame the victim's negligence in the past 'Guui Station Kim-gun' death accident. The Democratic Party of Korea has called Byun's remarks inappropriate but drew a line on withdrawing his nomination, saying, "We need to look at the context of the remarks," and "It is not a matter that should lead to withdrawal of the nomination."

On the 21st, Park Sung-min, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, strongly criticized Byun's 'Guui Station remarks' in an interview with KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strong Current Affairs,' saying, "No explanation can cover this up. It made me think whether this statement aligns with the Moon Jae-in administration's philosophy of state governance," and added, "It is something to consider in relation to the nominee's qualifications."

However, he drew a line, saying it was not enough to warrant withdrawal of the nomination. Park said, "It is not something that would lead to withdrawal of the nomination. I just expressed my personal opinion that this is not something to be simply defended or overlooked."

Park Hong-bae, another Supreme Council member, also pointed out at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly main building that morning, "The accident at that time was caused by excessive workload that could not even maintain 'two-person team work' to cut costs, and the outsourcing of risks due to an uncorrected work structure," and "Although Byun Chang-hoom issued an apology on the 18th, Kim-gun's colleagues are demanding voluntary resignation and withdrawal of the appointment."

Park emphasized, "Byun should visit Kim-gun's colleagues and bereaved families and offer a sincere apology first, which is the right thing to do."

Lee Won-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on August 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, voices defending Byun have also emerged. On the same day, Lee Won-wook, a member of the same party, appeared on BBS's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' and said, "It is true that controversy over some remarks is intensifying, but I hope people consider the overall context," adding, "Sometimes, even if the overall context is good, if one example is poorly chosen, it causes controversy as if that is everything." He emphasized, "Considering Byun's philosophy on housing issues and urban regeneration, I think he is a very excellent candidate."

Park Beom-gye, another lawmaker, also argued on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that "(Byun) has apologized," and "We need to listen more about the context in which the remarks were made during the confirmation hearing."

Previously, in 2016, while serving as president of the Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation), Byun sparked controversy by making remarks in an internal meeting related to the 'Guui Station Kim-gun' incident, saying, "If he had paid a little more attention, nothing would have happened," seemingly blaming the victim for the accident in which Kim-gun died while repairing a screen door alone. As the controversy continued, Byun issued an apology on the 18th, stating, "I sincerely apologize to those who have been hurt emotionally. As a public office nominee, I will reflect more deeply and act more responsibly."

Meanwhile, labor groups have called for Byun's resignation. On the 20th, the PSD branch of the Seoul Transportation Corporation Union, the Korea Power Technology Branch of the Public Transport Union, and Youth Jeontaeil held a press conference in front of the Blue House, demanding, "Byun insulted Kim-gun and shamelessly made reckless remarks as if Kim-gun died because of his own fault," and "Byun, who insulted the death of Kim-gun at Guui Station, should immediately resign from the ministerial post voluntarily or the Blue House should withdraw his appointment."

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