Gyeongbuk Provincial Assemblyman Ichilgu: "Strict Response Needed to Media Distorting Pohang Earthquake Reports"

"Distorting as a Natural Earthquake, Gyeongbuk Province Must Take Responsible Role"

Lee Chil-gu, a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly (People Power Party·Pohang), urged the provincial government to take a responsible role in compensating the victims and protecting the rights of citizens affected by the Pohang earthquake triggered by geothermal power generation during a 5-minute free speech at the plenary session held on the 3rd.

The Pohang earthquake that occurred on November 15, 2017, was concluded by the government investigation research team on March 20, 2019, to be a "triggered earthquake caused by geothermal power generation." On November 16 last year, the Daegu District Court Pohang Branch recognized the causal relationship between the Pohang earthquake and the geothermal power project and ruled that compensation of up to 3 million won be paid to Pohang citizens.

Ichilgu, Chairperson of the Operations Committee, Gyeongbuk Provincial Council

Assemblyman Lee criticized the government for appealing again against the court ruling that the government must pay compensation to the victims of the Pohang earthquake, despite the fact that the Pohang earthquake was clearly revealed to be a triggered earthquake caused by the government's geothermal power project, calling it an act of driving another nail into the unhealed wounds of Pohang citizens.

He also pointed out that recent domestic media reports and expert institutions have been distorting the reality by portraying the Pohang earthquake as if it were a natural earthquake, arguing that such behavior can only be seen as secondary harm to the citizens of Pohang.

Accordingly, Assemblyman Lee first urged the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government to take the lead in actively proposing amendments to the "Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth and Relief of Damage of the Pohang Earthquake" to the government and central political circles, and to take the frontline in preparing measures for compensation and protection of rights for the residents.

He also called for a proactive stance from the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government regarding the distortion of reports that incite anxiety among residents by portraying the Pohang earthquake as a natural earthquake, and urged strict warnings and strong responses to the media and institutions that repeatedly engage in such distorted reporting.

Concluding his remarks, Assemblyman Lee asked the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government to fulfill its responsible role as the strongest partner and reliable supporter in protecting the safety and lives of the residents.

Since September 11, 2018, Assemblyman Lee Chil-gu has served as the chairman of the "Special Committee on Earthquake Measures," working to identify the causes of the Pohang earthquake and to establish institutional measures to safely protect the lives and property of residents in the event of an earthquake.

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