The Democratic Party to Strengthen Safety Even at Events Without Organizers... Plans to Amend the Disaster Safety Act

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Denies 'Lee Sang-min Responsibility Theory'... Embarrassed by Yongsan District Mayor's Controversial Remarks
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Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Park Joon-yi] The ruling party is moving to amend the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management to strengthen safety management even for private events without organizers. Inside the ruling party, an awkward atmosphere is sensed as a series of verbal missteps occurred, including Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min’s ‘responsibility avoidance’ remarks during the national mourning period and Park Hee-young, mayor of Yongsan District from the People Power Party, saying "We did everything we could." The opposition party, while expressing willingness to cooperate in managing the situation, is intensifying its offensive by raising accountability issues against Minister Lee and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

Seong Il-jong, chairman of the People Power Party’s Policy Committee, said at a party strategy meeting on the 1st, "We will prioritize accident management and actively support all possible measures to identify causes and prepare recurrence prevention plans," emphasizing the party’s commitment.

The ruling party’s plan to amend the law came just one day after President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered a "crowd accident management system applicable even to voluntary events." President Yoon held an expanded weekly meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister Lee Sang-min, and others, instructing them to devise fundamental measures to prevent similar accidents from recurring.

Chairman Seong said, "Now is the time to do our best for accident management and public stability regardless of party lines," and requested the opposition’s cooperation, saying, "As the Democratic Party also mentioned bipartisan cooperation, the political sphere should show collaboration in preparing necessary legislation."

He added, "Along with accident management, a precise investigation into the causes of this accident must be conducted without delay using all administrative resources," and urged the government authorities to re-examine response manuals for large crowd gatherings and safety conditions at earthquakes, fires, construction sites, chemical plants, and industrial facilities.

The People Power Party drew a line against calls to dismiss Minister Lee, who faced criticism for saying "Deploying police in advance would not have solved the problem." Chairman Seong said on a radio program that day, "Minister Lee is working without sleep at night. I don’t understand why this issue is being raised now." Floor leader Joo Ho-young also said, "During the mourning period, we should refrain from political strife, and discussions about accident causes or responsibilities will take place afterward, so I will not express my opinion on this matter until the 5th, when the mourning period ends."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 1st and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Kim Ki-hyun, a People Power Party lawmaker mentioned as a potential next party leader, also emphasized, "It is not appropriate to mention dismissal before sufficient cause investigation and accountability are clarified," adding, "As this is a national ‘time of mourning,’ now is the time to stop blame and political strife and unite to fundamentally address safety complacency."

However, following Minister Lee, Mayor Park’s remark that "We did everything we could" put them in an awkward situation. Floor leader Joo avoided commenting on Mayor Park’s statement, saying, "It will be discussed after the 5th."

The opposition party raised issues with remarks by Minister Lee, President Yoon, and Mayor Park. Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at a party strategy meeting that day, "Minister Lee, who has become the center of controversy with irresponsible and evasive remarks day after day, is already facing calls for dismissal even within the ruling party," and criticized, "The Yongsan District mayor’s ‘no organizer, so it’s not a festival but a phenomenon’ remark 18 hours after the accident, which evades responsibility, is also shocking."

He also criticized President Yoon, saying, "His remarks blaming the cause on institutional shortcomings as if the accident happened because there was no organizer are very inappropriate during the national mourning period," and added, "If there is no event organizer, according to the main principles of the current disaster safety law, government authorities such as Seoul City, Yongsan District Office, Seoul Police Agency, and Yongsan Police Station should take charge."

The Democratic Party is taking a stance to refrain from political strife and cooperate with the ruling party considering the situation management period. However, voices within the party call for holding those responsible accountable. Especially, the atmosphere is dominant that Minister Lee, Mayor Oh, and Mayor Park cannot avoid responsibility. A leadership official explained, "Once the victim’s funeral period ends, discussions about accountability will naturally arise," and added, "It is natural to raise issues, investigate the truth, and discuss punishment for those responsible."

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