Kim Ki-hyun "Apologies to the Public for Flood Damage"... Lee Jae-myung Visits Flood Site Again, Focuses on Recovery Efforts

Kim Ki-hyun "All Party Organizations Fully Mobilized for Recovery Support"
Visited Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at 11 AM for Meeting
Lee Jae-myung Meets Residents in Iksan, Jeonbuk Field

On the 18th, both ruling and opposition parties focused their efforts on assessing the damage caused by heavy rain and supporting flood recovery. They agreed to pause political conflicts for the time being and concentrate all resources on establishing national disaster countermeasures.

Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, stated at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "As the leader of the ruling party, I apologize to the people for the significant damage caused by the natural disaster." He added, "We will mobilize all party organizations to support recovery activities and start fundraising for the disaster victims." Furthermore, he said, "We will prioritize disaster recovery and preventive projects through the use of contingency funds and actively ensure sufficient reflection in next year's budget."

Along with this, Kim emphasized, "It is necessary to review whether water resource management should be handled by the Ministry of Environment rather than the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the post-Four Major Rivers Project tributary and stream maintenance projects must be systematically carried out."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the Osong Gungpyeong Underpass, where casualties occurred, he said, "There is criticism that this was a man-made disaster. Thorough inspection, investigation, and prosecution are necessary," adding, "Those responsible must be strictly held accountable regardless of their status or position."

He also sought cooperation from the opposition Democratic Party, saying, "Since this concerns the safety of the people's lives, I request the Democratic Party to cooperate with a scientific and objective perspective rather than a partisan one."

The Democratic Party proposed forming a ruling-opposition task force (TF) for flood recovery and damage support. Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the morning floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly, "I hope effective measures will be created." Park emphasized, "The declaration of special disaster areas and realistic support are of primary importance," and added, "I hope the ruling-opposition TF will be open for consultation." He also requested, "Please actively consider supplementary budget allocation for the second half economic situation and smooth flood recovery."

On the same day, the leadership of both parties visited flood-affected sites. Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, visited the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at the Government Seoul Office Building at 11 a.m. to receive damage reports and hold a meeting to discuss countermeasures. In the afternoon, at the party members' meeting, Jeong Hee-yong, chairman of the People Power Party's Disaster Countermeasures Committee, will report the disaster situation to party members.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, visited the flood damage site in Iksan, Jeonbuk, in the morning. On the 19th, he plans to preside over a Supreme Council meeting on-site in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk.

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