"Itaewon Tragedy" Government to Support Medical Expenses for Unidentified Injured by Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters until the 8th... Promoting Legal Amendments and Manual Preparation

Multi-Dense TF Operation... Discussions on Revising Local Government Safety Management Obligations and Laws
Strengthening Safety Education for Youth and Students

During the national mourning period following the Itaewon tragedy, citizens continue to visit the memorial space set up around Itaewon Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government will provide medical expenses support for victims of the Itaewon disaster who have not been identified by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) by the 8th. The 'Task Force (TF) for Preventing Safety Accidents in Crowded Places,' which started the day before, discussed revising laws, preparing guidelines, and manuals.

On the 3rd, Kim Seong-ho, the Chief Coordinator of CDSCH Headquarters 1 (Director of the Disaster Management Headquarters, Ministry of the Interior and Safety), said in his opening remarks at the CDSCH meeting, "We will take measures to support medical expenses not only for victims identified by the CDSCH through local governments by the 8th but also for those who have not been identified." As of 9 a.m. that day, the death toll was 156, and the number of injured, including 33 seriously injured, was counted at 173.

The government activated the TF for Preventing Safety Accidents in Crowded Places, which started the day before. The TF, chaired by the Minister of the Interior and Safety, included central government ministries, local governments, and private experts in safety and crowd management. The TF focused on three areas: ▲ revising laws to stipulate local governments' safety management obligations ▲ preparing related guidelines and manuals ▲ analyzing crowd density using science and technology.

Kim, the Chief Coordinator of Headquarters 1, said, "Along with the three areas, the TF decided to strengthen safety education for youth and students, safety managers, and crowd management training for frontline police officers," adding, "We plan to continue these improvement efforts intensively through the Council of Related Ministers."

He added, "We will continue TF discussions and promptly improve immediately implementable measures once a comprehensive plan is prepared."

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