Oseong disaster memorial statue installation gains momentum three years later

Three years after a tragic disaster in Oseong claimed 14 lives and injured 16, a memorial statue is finally set to be erected. The project, initially proposed by the Oseong Disaster Bereaved Families Council and pursued by the North Chungcheong provincial government, faced significant hurdles.

The provincial council, then dominated by the People Power Party, had previously rejected the budget for the memorial, effectively halting the initiative. However, the political landscape has shifted dramatically following the recent local elections.

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The newly elected governor has the will to create the Oseong disaster memorial statue and memorial space. We will proceed without disruption in consultation with the provincial council.

Both Shin Hyun-han, the newly elected governor of North Chungcheong Province, and the Democratic Party's newly elected members of the provincial council have voiced strong support for the memorial. Shin's transition committee confirmed his commitment to the statue and memorial space, vowing to collaborate with the provincial council to ensure its smooth realization. The bereaved families had previously met with Shin, proposing the swift construction of the memorial, the creation of a dedicated space, and the establishment of a legal basis for family support and memorial projects.

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The Oseong disaster is a social scar that must not be forgotten. A memorial space must be created to honor the victims and pledge safety for Chungbuk.

"Protecting the lives and safety of the citizens is a fundamental duty of the provincial government," Shin stated, pledging cooperation with relevant agencies to remember the victims and prevent future tragedies. He assured that the families' wishes regarding the memorial monument and space would be carefully considered and pursued without delay.

The Democratic Party's newly elected council members echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the Oseong disaster should not be forgotten. They called for the creation of a memorial space to honor the victims and reaffirm a commitment to safety in the province. Park Jin-hee, a re-elected council member, specifically proposed pushing for the memorial statue, the memorial space, and the enactment of a basic life safety ordinance for North Chungcheong Province. Discussions are underway regarding whether to proceed with the original plan for the statue or to enhance it, and where to establish the memorial space, with proposals including locations within the provincial government building or its affiliated agencies.

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We should proceed with the installation of the Oseong disaster memorial statue, the creation of a memorial space, and the enactment of the North Chungcheong Province Life Safety Basic Ordinance. We need to review whether to proceed with the original plan pursued by the province in the 8th local government or to supplement it, and discuss and promote the installation of the memorial space within the provincial government building or affiliated agency buildings.