Gyeongnam Governor Park Wansu: "The Province Must Responsibly Respond to Local Disasters and Accidents"

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is presiding over the meeting of department and bureau heads.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The meeting of the heads of departments and bureaus of Gyeongnam Province held on the 31st began with a tribute to the victims of the Itaewon accident.

Governor Park Wan-su of Gyeongnam Province and the heads of departments and bureaus expressed their condolences with a moment of silence and exchanged opinions on next year’s budget proposal, provincial administrative tasks, and investment attraction briefings.

Governor Park said, “Disasters and accidents occurring in our region require responsible responses at the provincial level, which oversees comprehensive administration regardless of the relevant agencies,” and urged, “Put all your efforts into inspecting event venues, tourist facilities, and traffic safety for school trips.”

He continued, “When problems arise, the first place residents contact is 119,” emphasizing, “We must establish a system for rapid initial response such as firefighting and rescue, situation dissemination, and cooperation with related agencies.”

The province recommended reducing or canceling events and festivals during the national mourning period at the meeting of 18 cities and counties chaired by Executive Vice Governor Choi Man-rim on the morning of the 31st, following the meeting on the 30th.

They also discussed strengthening pre-event safety inspections, dispersing spectators, and enhancing on-site response measures with related agencies such as the police and fire departments.

Regarding next year’s budget proposal, Governor Park said, “The budget proposal is a barometer that shows our commitment to promises made to residents,” and urged, “Let us not stop efforts to discover projects unique to Gyeongnam for the residents.”

Regarding the investment attraction briefing held on the 25th, he requested, “Thoroughly manage follow-up measures such as resolving corporate difficulties so that investment agreements can lead to actual investments.”

Regarding the tourism investment and promotion briefing held on the same day, he instructed to develop tourism products linked with travel agencies focusing on the southern coast and other areas.

Governor Park also instructed to properly convey the province’s position for the establishment of the Sacheon Aerospace Agency.

He said, “When I met with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Minister of Science and Technology on the 26th to discuss provincial administrative issues, the Ministry of Science and Technology decided to prepare a roadmap for establishing the Aerospace Agency within this year,” adding, “Since Gyeongnam Province will participate in the preparatory TF for the establishment promotion team, actively present the province’s position.”

Additionally, he requested management of Gyeongnam’s pending issues discussed at the People Power Party’s National Assembly members’ budget policy meeting on the 27th, including ▲utilization plans for the Masan Prison site ▲improvements to the Seomasan IC entrance and exit roads ▲government measures to reduce tolls on the Geoga Expressway ▲national funding support for the childcare center Nuri curriculum ▲and the promotion of the highway between Hamyang and Ulsan.

Governor Park emphasized preparation for the administrative affairs audit and provincial questions scheduled for the November regular session of the Provincial Assembly.

He reiterated, “Explanations to the assembly members are explanations to the residents,” and said, “Respond accurately and sincerely to avoid misunderstandings.”

The memorial incense altar for the victims of the Itaewon disaster set up in front of the main building of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office (above) and the bus providing disaster site recovery support services. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

The province set up a joint memorial altar in front of the main building of the provincial government office that morning and will operate it from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the national mourning period.

Next to the memorial altar, the Korean Red Cross’s disaster site recovery support bus is stationed to provide psychological counseling and mental recovery support services to residents.

After the meeting that day, Governor Park visited the memorial altar for the victims of the Itaewon accident and prayed for the deceased.

He wrote in the condolence book, “I sincerely pray for the repose of those who lost their lives in the unexpected major accident. My heart is full of sorrow. I hope such an incident will never happen again.”

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