Rep. Kwon Seong-dong of People’s Power insisted that “Itaewon should not go the same way as the Sewol ferry” over the launch of the Itaewon Halloween disaster victims’ 10/29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Family Council. In addition, the Democratic Party criticized, “Not only the families of the victims of the Itaewon disaster, but also the families of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster are being humiliated.”
When the Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Family Council was launched on the 10th, Rep. Kwon said through social network service (SNS), “After taking the first step through Minbyun on the 15th of last month, it has been active in the form of a preparatory meeting.” also announced the launch. People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) participated in this.”
He continued, “The way civic groups are organized and put pressure on the government should be avoided,” he argued, “because there is a possibility that it will be consumed as a means of embezzlement by civic groups after being consumed in political strife like the Sewol ferry.”
Rep. Kwon argued, “In fact, some civic groups said they were doing a project to commemorate the Sewol ferry disaster, took tax money and went there to play, and used it for pro-North Korea education.” He added, “Civic groups belonging to the Citizens’ Countermeasures Council should first clarify how to compensate for the negligent abuse of civic groups that abused the Sewol ferry before pressuring the government from the side of the bereaved families.”
In addition, “An attorney from Minbyun’s Itaewon Disaster TF (Task Force) is a member of the ‘People’s Action to Abolish the National Security Law’ and has been leading the campaign to abolish the National Security Law for over 10 years, showing extreme political tendencies.” Because of this, there is a national suspicion of ‘reconciliation of disasters’,” he argued.
He added, “We must go beyond memorial to prevention, and beyond political strife to system improvement.”
In response, Lee Soo-jin, spokesperson for the hospital, made a comment and criticized, “Rep. Kwon’s remarks about ‘pro-North Korea’ and ’embezzlement’ are insulting not only the families of the victims of the Itaewon disaster but also the families of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster.”
In-hospital spokesman Lee said, “Why are you cursing the bereaved families and civic groups who are demanding the truth even though they can’t reflect on their responsibility for not preventing the disaster?” “What are you so afraid of? Is it the truth of the disaster, or is it the order of the people to take responsibility for the disaster?”
He added, “The strength of the people is to find a lesson from the past,” and added, “I hope that President Park Geun-hye will not repeat the mistake of ignoring responsibility for the Sewol ferry disaster due to an out-of-body body.”