"Itaewon Tragedy" Oh Se-hoon: "I Will Promote Temporary Organizational Restructuring for Safety Management"

Oh Se-hoon Responds to Seoul Metropolitan Council Plenary Session's Policy Questions
Attributes Prediction Failure to "Recognizing This Time That Perceptions of Halloween Vary by Age Group"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced that he will undertake an organizational restructuring related to safety management in the wake of the Itaewon tragedy.

On the 17th, in response to a policy question at the Seoul Metropolitan Council plenary session, Mayor Oh said, "There were parts that could not be systematically managed until now," and added, "I will carry out an overall organizational restructuring."

He continued, "Comprehensively, even if we have the opportunity later, through a temporary organizational restructuring, we will ensure that personnel can devote their full efforts," and added, "I conveyed this policy to the Director of the Planning and Coordination Office on the 16th."

Earlier, Mayor Oh pointed to the failure of relevant authorities' predictions as the cause of the Itaewon tragedy. Accordingly, Seoul City is expected to undertake an organizational restructuring to prepare for disaster prediction and enable rapid response. Seoul City is also participating in the task force (TF) established to reorganize the disaster safety system to strengthen safety measures following the Itaewon tragedy.

Meanwhile, Mayor Oh cited the differing perceptions of Halloween by age group as a reason for failing to predict the increase in crowd density in Itaewon on that day.

He explained, "I learned this time that perceptions of Halloween differ by age group," and said, "In a feeling of frustration after the tragedy, I asked in an executive meeting how Halloween is perceived and conducted a brief public opinion survey on the expected crowd gathering. I feel infinite responsibility and deeply regret it."

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