[Beijing Diary] Safety Is Neither a Number Nor an Atmosphere

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] "How can such a thing happen in Korea?"

Early morning on the weekend of the 30th, my eyes snapped open at a WeChat message from a local Chinese friend. The Itaewon disaster had already escalated beyond control, and the number of casualties was unbelievable. The local acquaintances who contacted me all sincerely lamented the situation but seemed puzzled as to why such a major tragedy occurred in an advanced country like Korea, and that too in the heart of Seoul.

The China I experienced locally is a country that is very obsessed with public safety. Beijing, the capital, is especially so. Every bus has a safety officer wearing a red armband assigned to it. They assist the mobility-impaired such as the disabled or elderly and provide seats for young children, but their main duty, as written on the armband, is to "safeguard safety."

At subway turnstiles, only those whose identity is clearly verified, including COVID-19 nucleic acid test results, can pass after their luggage is inspected. Officers are stationed in each train car to immediately restrain anyone not wearing a mask or causing disturbances. This is why you cannot encounter so-called "subway villains" who cause sudden disruptions in Korea here in Beijing. Since the spread of COVID-19, large gatherings or noisy festivals are rarely permitted.

At a press conference held during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Party Congress) in mid-month, Xu Ganlu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Security of China, emphasized that China is one of the safest countries in the world. He presented specific figures: 0.5 homicides per 100,000 people, and a 64.6% decrease in the incidence of eight major criminal offenses including murder and rape compared to ten years ago. Compared to the United States, where more than 7 homicides per 100,000 people occur, it would be correct to say China is much safer based on these numbers alone.

Korea has also been highly praised as being even safer for travelers. A place where phones and wallets do not disappear even if you leave your seat in a coffee shop, where streetlights never go out 24 hours a day, and where you can easily get help from public authorities?such self-praise has been common. However, last night, a crowd of young people who wanted to enjoy the long-awaited excitement tragically collapsed on the streets, and many who could only helplessly watch are now going through a time of despair.

Reflecting on the dictionary definition of safety as "a state where there is no risk of danger or accident," it is difficult to recognize a society as truly safe if it is overly rigid and nothing happens, or if one blindly relies on civic consciousness and optimism. Safety is neither a number nor an atmosphere. The word safety should never be confidently attached anywhere; it is more appropriate to use it after much effort and caution, looking back and saying "it was safe." I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives in the accident.

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