Ruling and Opposition Parties Visit Flood Damage Sites One After Another... Urge "Declaration of Special Disaster Area"

CEO Kim Ki-hyun Visits Flood Damage Site in Chungcheong Region
"Do Not Obstruct Public Officials at Flood Recovery Sites"
Also Cancels Overseas Business Trip and Parliamentary Schedule

Leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties visited areas affected by heavy rain one after another to express condolences to the victims and voiced a unified call for prompt damage recovery and countermeasure preparations.

On the morning of the 17th, the ruling party leadership, including Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, canceled the regular Supreme Council meeting and visited flood damage sites in the Chungcheong region, where heavy rain damage was concentrated. Kim urged Secretary General Koo Ja-geun, "Please collect information through the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on whether military units or companies have spare pumping facilities that can be supported."

Earlier, immediately after returning from the United States the previous day, Kim held an emergency countermeasure meeting on heavy rain damage with key party officials. He requested all party officials to be especially cautious in their words and actions, and warned them to avoid interfering with public officials’ duties when visiting flood sites or engaging in volunteer activities. The People Power Party also issued a notice that day urging lawmakers to refrain from overseas trips.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who attended the NATO summit held in Lithuania and completed visits to Poland and Ukraine, returned to South Korea on the 17th via Seongnam Seoul Airport. He is seen reviewing flood-related materials prepared by Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, while engaging in conversation. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim also welcomed President Yoon Seok-yeol and the First Lady upon their return from an overseas tour. At this meeting, Kim handed over documents related to the flood accident sites where damage assessments had been made and requested the president to declare a special disaster area. President Yoon reportedly said he would actively consider the request.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also called for the prompt declaration of special disaster areas for the regions affected by the heavy rain on the same day. Previously, Lee visited the site of the underground passage accident in Osong, Cheongju, Chungbuk, which was flooded and caused casualties, as well as the evacuation shelter for disaster victims in Goesan and vegetable farms damaged by the flood.

He stated, "I judge that equipment, facilities, and manpower support are especially needed," and emphasized, "I once again urge the full mobilization of available military units and resources."

He added, "Farmers are very worried about crop damage, so I request a review to make crop damage compensation or support a reality," and promised, "The Democratic Party will also actively cooperate in national disaster recovery. We will maintain an emergency system at the level of provincial party organizations and local committees nationwide and make every effort to support restoration."

Lee said, "Heavy rain is expected to continue this week, and except for Jeju, a landslide warning has been issued nationwide, creating an emergency situation," urging, "The government and local governments should mobilize all administrative power to prevent additional casualties." He also stressed, "We must never repeat preventable man-made disasters," and emphasized, "There must be swift and proactive safety measures for vulnerable facilities."

Meanwhile, as the damage from the heavy rain expanded, the National Assembly’s schedule was also postponed one after another. Originally, the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee were scheduled to summon Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong respectively for urgent inquiries on the day, but the Legislation and Judiciary Committee excluded urgent inquiries from the agenda and decided to prioritize major bills, while the Land Committee postponed its meeting schedule entirely. Members of the People Power Party’s Public Administration and Security Committee postponed their planned visit to the Noryangjin Fish Market in Seoul that day, and the Democratic Party’s Innovation Committee, which planned to visit Jeju Island on the same day to gather public opinion on party innovation directions, also canceled the trip.

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