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President demands strict accountability for infrastructure failures

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • President Lee Jae-myung demands strict accountability for recent infrastructure failures, including a bridge collapse and missing rebar in a major transit project.
  • He criticizes a persistent tendency in society to prioritize profit and efficiency over safety.
  • The president highlighted the 10th anniversary of the Guui Station tragedy, emphasizing the need to improve industrial safety despite recent reductions in fatalities.

President Lee Jae-myung has called for swift and stringent accountability for recent infrastructure failures, citing the collapse of the Seosomun overpass demolition site and the issue of missing rebar at the GTX-A Samsung Station. "Relevant agencies must quickly uncover the truth and, based on the results, hold individuals strictly accountable regardless of their position," Lee stated during a senior staff meeting at the Blue House.

Relevant agencies must quickly uncover the truth and, based on the results, hold individuals strictly accountable regardless of their position.

— President Lee Jae-myungPresident Lee's directive following recent infrastructure failures.

Lee criticized what he described as a "bad practice" in parts of society that prioritizes money and efficiency over safety. He suggested that the recent incidents, including the Seosomun overpass accident and the GTX-A rebar problem, may stem from these deeply ingrained issues, necessitating a thorough investigation.

There is still a bad practice in some parts of our society that prioritizes money and efficiency over safety.

— President Lee Jae-myungPresident Lee's criticism of societal priorities regarding safety.

"The seriousness of these incidents is amplified because public sector entities, which should be at the forefront of ensuring public safety, are involved," Lee remarked. He reiterated the principle that "money can never be more valuable than life" and stressed that "safety is the most efficient investment."

The seriousness of these incidents is amplified because public sector entities, which should be at the forefront of ensuring public safety, are involved.

— President Lee Jae-myungPresident Lee's comments on the involvement of public entities in safety failures.

The president also marked the 10th anniversary of the Guui Station tragedy, where a young worker died alone on a platform after being hit by a train. While acknowledging a significant decrease in industrial accident fatalities in the first quarter of this year, attributed to public attention and on-site efforts, Lee noted that many deaths still occur. He urged continued focus on safety to prevent future tragedies.

Money can never be more valuable than life. Safety is the most efficient investment.

— President Lee Jae-myungPresident Lee's emphasis on the value of life and safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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