Victims' families demand action on anniversary of Osong flood disaster

Bereaved families of the victims of last year’s Osong flood disaster called for the government to take action to prevent similar accidents during a memorial event to commemorate the anniversary of the tragedy on Monday.

North Chungcheong Gov. Kim Young-hwan and provincial government officials lay flowers at the memorial altar for the victims of the Osong flood disaster at the Cheongju city government on Monday, marking the first anniversary of the tragedy. [NORTH CHUNGCHEONG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT]

Bereaved families of the victims of last year’s Osong flood disaster called for the government to take action to prevent similar accidents during a memorial event to commemorate the anniversary of the tragedy on Monday.

The memorial event was held in front of the Gungpyeong 2 underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, North Chungcheong, the site of the disaster that claimed 14 lives last year. The underpass was flooded on July 15 last year after a temporary sand levee broke on the nearby Miho River, which had swollen due to heavy rains. Sixteen other people were injured in the accident.

A representative of the victims’ families, who lost her mother in the tragedy, called for a parliamentary probe into the disaster.

"The Osong flood disaster was a tragedy that had many chances to be prevented," she said.

"The National Assembly should launch a parliamentary probe to discover the truth."

Another family member added, “After the Osong flood disaster, we have realized that we are just some temporary survivors of accidents, fortunately alive. We urge the government to serve its role in protecting the lives and safety of the people and not leaving our lives to luck.”

The underpass, blocked since the accident, now has two handrails installed on each side of the walls.

These handrails were installed because some survivors barely escaped from the underpass by holding onto handrails last year. The lower handrail is about 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) high from the curbstone, and the higher one is 2.7 meters above. Ladders are installed every 25 meters so people can climb to the higher handrail.

However, the underpass has yet to be reopened. The reopening, initially set for late last month, was postponed following requests from victims’ families and civic groups for a more thorough inspection.

Victims' families believe that the safety measures announced by the North Chungcheong provincial government, including constructing a 520-meter-long cutoff wall, are insufficient. They also argued that the lower handrail is too high for children to hold onto.

A survivor of the accident suggested installing evacuation exits every 100 meters of the tunnel, saying that it would be difficult to escape the underpass holding onto handrails if strong currents of water flood the area in a short period like last year.

The North Chungcheong provincial government explained that the Gungpyeong 2 underpass does not have regulations requiring the construction of evacuation exits like those in highway tunnels, but it promised to complement its safety measures by considering suggestions.

Investigations by prosecutors to hold those accountable for the accident are still underway. A total of 44 people alleged to be involved in the tragedy, including public officials and police, have been sent to trial. The head of the construction site responsible for building the temporary levees was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison in May. A supervisory director of the construction was also sentenced to six years in prison.

Prosecutors are also investigating North Chungcheong Gov. Kim Young-hwan and Cheongju Mayor Lee Beom-seok, who are accused of violating the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

BY CHOI JONG-KWON, CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]