Sang-min Lee: "Sorry for Causing Concern with Impeachment Motion... The Tragedy Calls for an End to Exhaustive Political Strife"

"As Minister of the Interior and Safety, I have pondered for six months"
Emphasizing flood damage recovery and disaster response system
Visit to flood recovery site starting this afternoon

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who is returning to his duties following the Constitutional Court's dismissal of the impeachment motion, stated, "Taking the dismissal decision as an opportunity, we must stop any further exhausting political strife related to the 10.29 Itaewon tragedy and unite our efforts so that we never experience such pain again."

On the 25th, Minister Lee issued a statement saying, "I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims and bereaved families of the 10.29 tragedy," and added, "I apologize for causing concern to the people due to my impeachment motion."

He said, "Dear respected citizens, South Korea is currently facing difficult domestic and international conditions due to climate disasters, population decline and regional extinction, and global complex crises," and added, "It is time to overcome these crises and move forward for the nation's leap forward."

He continued, "As a member of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's cabinet and Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a key government department, and as a citizen of the Republic of Korea, I have deeply reflected over the past six months on what mindset and attitude I should have to create a safer Korea and a Korea where fairness and common sense are the foundation and where it is good to live anywhere."

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who was impeached over the inadequate response to the October 29 Itaewon disaster, is attending the first hearing of the impeachment trial held at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on May 9. He is looking at the justices. 2023.5.9 [Photo by Joint Coverage]

He emphasized, "Above all, I will do my utmost to restore the damage so that those affected by the recent heavy rains can return to their daily lives as soon as possible."

Minister Lee stated, "Furthermore, with a profound sense of responsibility as Minister of the Interior and Safety, I will fundamentally change the disaster management system and response methods for natural disasters and new types of disasters, and devote all my efforts to opening an era of national balanced development and local autonomy," adding, "I will also reexamine the attitudes of public officials and boldly eliminate improper practices within the government so that change can start from the government."

The Constitutional Court, at 2 p.m. on the same day in the Grand Bench, unanimously dismissed the National Assembly's impeachment petition against Minister Lee. The Court stated, "From the perspective of the Constitution and laws, it is difficult to see that the respondent (Minister Lee) violated the Disaster and Safety Management Act and the National Public Service Act and failed to fulfill the constitutional duty to protect the people."

On the afternoon of the same day, Minister Lee is scheduled to return to his duties starting with a visit to the Jicheon area in Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam Province, which was damaged by the heavy rains.

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