Government and Bereaved Families to Hold First Joint Memorial for 3rd Anniversary of Osong Disaster; Safety Inspections Conducted at Underpass

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it inspected preparations for the memorial service and safety management measures for underpasses in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, today (July 13), ahead of the 3rd anniversary of the Osong disaster.
The Osong disaster was a tragedy that occurred on July 15, 2023, when the Miho River embankment collapsed due to torrential rain, causing the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass to flood, resulting in 14 deaths and 16 injuries.
Since last year, the government has been operating the "Osong Underpass Disaster Victim Support Task Force" within the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Starting with this year's 3rd anniversary, the memorial service, which had previously been organized by the bereaved families and the survivors' association, will be held jointly by the government, the bereaved families, and the survivors' association.
Kim Kwang-yong, head of the Disaster and Safety Management Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, visited the public memorial altar set up at Cheongju City Hall today to pay tribute to the victims. He then visited the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass to inspect institutional improvements implemented since the disaster, including the installation status of vehicle entry barrier systems and emergency evacuation facilities, as well as strengthened control standards for underpasses.
Following the Osong disaster, the government expanded the scope of mandatory installation for underpass entry barrier systems and made it mandatory to establish response plans, set control standards, and designate personnel for each underpass.
In addition, four personnel have been designated for each underpass to proactively control access based on water depth, and the maximum water depth threshold for entry control has been tightened from the previous 15 cm to 5 cm.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained that based on these standards, 19 underpasses nationwide were proactively closed during the heavy rainfall from July 8 to 10, preventing potential damage.
Furthermore, a pilot service is currently underway in 83 underpasses in Seoul and Daejeon, which provides drivers with real-time information on closures and detour routes via navigation apps when access is restricted due to heavy rain. The government plans to expand this service nationwide starting next year.
Currently, 512 out of the 564 underpasses designated for installation have completed the setup of entry barrier systems.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to provide budget support to ensure that local governments can promptly complete installations at the remaining 49 locations, excluding three that are scheduled for closure.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.