"Why Was Traffic Control Not Implemented Despite 112 Report?" National Assembly Inspection Office Begins Audit of 'Osong Disaster'

Office of the Inspector General, Public Service Management Division, Office for Government Policy Coordination
Investigation of Accident Causes, Traffic Control Situation Inspection
South Korean Prime Minister Issues Emergency Inter-Ministerial Directive

The Office for Government Policy Coordination has launched an inspection into the fatal accident at the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong, Chungbuk. The core of this inspection is to clarify why traffic control was not implemented in a timely manner despite 112 emergency calls being made 1 to 2 hours before the accident.

The Public Service Management Office of the Office for Government Policy Coordination plans to review the safety measures taken by local governments, police, and fire departments to determine why traffic control at the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass was not carried out promptly before the accident on the 17th. Administrative records related to the temporary embankment construction on the Miho River are also subject to investigation.

Since the Public Service Management Office is responsible for establishing discipline in the public sector and managing public officials' duties, it is expected to focus its inspection on whether there was any dereliction of duty immediately after the reports and on the accountability of public officials involved.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Emergency Control Requests Made 2 Hours Before Accident... Focused Follow-up Inspection

The government confirmed that on the day of the accident (15th at 8:40 a.m.), 112 emergency calls requesting 'urgent evacuation of Osong-eup residents' and 'emergency control of Gungpyeong Underpass' were made at 7:02 a.m. and 7:58 a.m., nearly 1 to 2 hours before the accident time.

Accordingly, early that morning, the government began securing all basic data on hazard reports and follow-up actions received by the metropolitan and local governments, including Chungbuk Province, Cheongju City, Heungdeok District, as well as police and fire departments responsible for the site.

An official from the Office for Government Policy Coordination stated, “We will promptly and transparently inform the public as soon as the results are available and take all necessary measures, including disciplinary action, prosecution, investigation requests, and system improvements.”

If concrete evidence is found that related public officials neglected road and embankment management, they are expected to be booked on charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

South Korean Prime Minister Issues Emergency Directive: "Frequent Landslides... Full Evacuation Orders"

Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo issued an emergency directive on the same day to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Forest Service, and local governments regarding the heavy rainfall.

He instructed, “Since landslides are occurring frequently in areas not previously designated as vulnerable, issue full evacuation orders for residents living in villages adjacent to mountainous areas or isolated houses.” He also emphasized that the Korea Forest Service, local governments, and even military and police personnel must be fully mobilized to ensure swift and safe evacuations.

He ordered comprehensive preemptive measures such as prior evacuation and access control when there is a risk of river flooding, embankment collapse, underpass flooding, semi-basement houses, apartment underground parking lot flooding, landslides, steep slope or road embankment collapse, and old building collapse. He added, “Local governments must thoroughly prepare without any gaps in securing evacuation sites, installing convenience facilities, and providing various amenities for preemptive evacuation.”

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