50 Dead or Missing During Monsoon Season... A Developing Country-Type Disaster

The Highest Number of Casualties During the Monsoon Season Since 2011
Ruling and Opposition Parties Demand Countermeasures... Subtle Differences in Solutions

The fact that the recent monsoon season rains caused casualties reaching 50 people is an incident that can be recorded as a 'developing country-type disaster.' Considering South Korea's national power aiming to join the G8, this is an unbefitting situation. This is also why both ruling and opposition parties unanimously call for fundamental countermeasures.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced on the 18th at 6 a.m. that the number of deaths and missing persons due to heavy rain is 50. Among them, 41 are confirmed dead.

The casualty number of 50 is the highest since 2011 (78 people). Deaths by region are 19 in Gyeongbuk, 17 in Chungbuk, 4 in Chungnam, and 1 in Sejong. Missing persons include 8 in Gyeongbuk and 1 in Busan.

The problem is that despite the forecast of heavy rain due to abnormal weather, the disaster could not be prevented. In particular, the flooding incident in the Osong underground passage in Cheongju, Chungbuk, where 14 people died, has been criticized as a developing country-type disaster because the disaster management system did not operate. Chungbuk Province explained the cause of the accident as 'inflow of river water due to the collapse of the Miho River embankment,' but it was revealed that road control was not implemented despite the Miho River flood warning and the 112 emergency call requesting urgent control before the disaster.

Yoo Sang-beom, the senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, said on the 18th on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "I still feel that a systematic system is somewhat lacking regarding repetitive disasters," adding, "Especially in the current heavy rain situation, the concentrated downpour is occurring in a form different from what we have experienced in the past."

Shim Sang-jung, a lawmaker from the Justice Party, pointed out on the 17th on KBS Radio's 'Joo Jin-woo Live' that "This disaster caused by landslides and also last year's disasters in underground parking lots and underground villas show that underground areas themselves are dangerous," adding, "This disaster occurred because the state did not fulfill its responsibilities."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Kwang-on, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the National Assembly floor leaders' meeting on the 18th, "The ruling-opposition-government task force proposes not only damage recovery and support but also a complete overhaul of the disaster response system and fundamental measures for disaster prevention."

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, said at the party's Supreme Council meeting, "There is criticism that this is a man-made disaster. Thorough inspection, investigation, and prosecution are necessary," adding, "Strict accountability should follow regardless of the position or status of those responsible."

While both ruling and opposition parties agree on the seriousness of this disaster, their solutions show subtle differences.

The government is expected to soon declare the affected areas as special disaster zones. President Yoon Suk-yeol stated in his remarks at the Cabinet meeting on the 18th, "We will declare the affected areas as special disaster zones as soon as possible and mobilize all available government resources, including contingency funds."

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