Ruling and Opposition Parties Mourn Fallen Marines... Urge "Safety Measures for Soldiers"

People Power Party, Moment of Silence Before Supreme Council Meeting
"How Was Not Even a Life Jacket Provided?"
Park Kwang-on Proposes Formation of Ruling and Opposition TF for Flood Recovery

On the 20th, both ruling and opposition parties mourned the tragic death of a Marine soldier who died during the search for missing persons at the flood disaster site. They also urged measures to prevent secondary accidents during the recovery process.

Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "Yesterday, a Marine soldier who went missing after being swept away by a rapid current while searching for missing persons in the heavy rain-affected area was ultimately unable to return to his family." He added, "My heart is truly heavy, and I cannot help but feel deep sorrow. I offer my sincere condolences to the deceased and extend my deepest sympathies and apologies to the bereaved family."

The fallen Marine soldier was found dead after going missing the previous morning during a search operation in the Yecheon-gun area of Gyeongbuk Province, swept away by a rapid current. Three Marines fell into the river when the ground suddenly collapsed; two managed to escape on their own, but the deceased Marine was swept away by the current and went missing. The missing Marine was found dead by fire authorities about 400 meters downstream. It was confirmed that the fallen Marine was performing his duty without wearing a life jacket or other safety gear.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "The anguished cries of the grieving parents are heart-wrenching," and urged, "The relevant authorities must take maximum safety measures to prevent secondary accidents during search, rescue, and recovery operations." Kim also stated, "We must solemnly and respectfully honor the noble dedication and sacrifice of the deceased and provide the utmost respect."

The People Power Party also held a moment of silence before the Supreme Council meeting to pray for the victims of the flood and the fallen Marine soldier.

Kim Byung-min, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said, "Many citizens are deeply saddened by the death of the young man swept away by the rapid current during the search," adding, "It is heartbreaking to think that if only he had been wearing a life jacket or had at least minimal safety equipment like a rope, this might have been prevented." He pointed out, "It is necessary to clearly verify whether the manuals were followed and if there were any problems with the on-site command system, to ensure that such a disaster, which should not have happened, does not occur again."

Kang Min-guk, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "Above all, the public cannot understand how a life jacket was not even provided when the search operation was conducted in the swollen river," criticizing, "If there is a related manual but it was not followed, a thorough investigation is necessary; if there is no manual, that is an even bigger problem." Kang added, "As we establish a thorough disaster response system, we must ensure that disasters do not lead to further deaths," and urged, "The relevant authorities must ensure the safety of everyone involved in the search for the missing and accident recovery efforts without any gaps, even at this hour."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party, also expressed condolences during a public meeting and called for safety measures for the soldiers. At the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Park said, "A Marine soldier who was conducting search operations at the site of a landslide disaster in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, went missing and was later found dead," urging, "The Ministry of National Defense should thoroughly investigate the circumstances to prevent recurrence and thoroughly check the safety measures for soldiers working in hazardous sites."

On the same day, Park officially proposed forming a bipartisan task force (TF) to prepare for flood recovery, victim support, and prevention of recurrence. He emphasized, "We demand once again that a bipartisan TF be formed within today to actively engage in flood recovery, victim support, and the formulation of measures to prevent recurrence."

However, he also criticized, "The public is disappointed by a government that tries to blame even disasters on the previous administration," adding, "This is neither a sincere attitude toward the victims nor a responsible approach to doing their best in recovery efforts." He further pointed out, "During the same heavy rain situation, Gunsan in Jeollabuk-do had no casualties, while Cheongju suffered significant damage," and said, "The difference lies in whether local government officials thoroughly prepared and remained vigilant or not. This is why it is a man-made disaster (Injae, 人災)."

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