▲ Kim Kwang-yong, Head of the Disaster and Safety Management Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, visits the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on July 13 to inspect flood response improvements, including the installation of vehicle entry barriers and emergency evacuation facilities.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it will hold the 3rd Anniversary Memorial Service for the July 15 Osong Underpass Disaster at the main conference room of the North Chungcheong Provincial Office tomorrow, July 15.
The memorial service will be attended by officials from North Chungcheong Province and Cheongju City, as well as the association of bereaved families and survivors, and civic groups.
This marks the first time that the government and local authorities have co-hosted the event, which had previously been organized solely by the association of bereaved families and survivors and civic groups.
The theme of this year's memorial service is "Three Years Since the Osong Disaster: Beyond Remembrance and Mourning, Toward a Safer Tomorrow."
Approximately 200 people, including bereaved families and survivors, are expected to attend.
Prior to the main ceremony, attendees plan to visit the public memorial altar set up at the temporary Cheongju City Hall building.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is implementing safety measures to prevent the recurrence of underpass flooding accidents. These include lowering the maximum water depth threshold for closing underpasses from 15 cm to 5 cm and mandating the installation of remotely controlled automatic entry barriers.
Furthermore, to prevent gaps in initial on-site responses, the ministry has designated four responsible officials for each underpass and expanded the installation of evacuation guidance facilities and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung stated, "The Osong disaster is a painful memory that our society must never forget," adding, "Building a safe Republic of Korea where innocent citizens are never again lost in vain is the most sincere promise we can make to those who have passed away."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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