President Lee: "We Must Not Forget the Osong Tragedy... Preparedness Must Be Extraordinary"

Memorial Ceremony Held at North Chungcheong Provincial Government on Third Anniversary

On July 15, marking the third anniversary of the Cheongju Osong underpass disaster, President Lee Jae-myung paid tribute to the victims, stating, "I will never forget that the nation’s foremost duty is to protect the lives and safety of its people."

President Lee sent a message of condolence to the memorial ceremony for the third anniversary of the 7·15 Osong underpass disaster, held at the North Chungcheong Provincial Government, expressing, "With all my heart, I pray for the repose of the victims." The message was read on his behalf by Jeon Seonghwan, Senior Secretary for Policy Planning and Communication at the Blue House.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the ministry work report held at the Blue House Reception Hall on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency Blue House Communications Photographers Group

President Lee said, "On this day three years ago, we lost the precious lives of fourteen people—a father who was a bus driver responsible for ensuring the safety of citizens on their daily commutes, a caring older brother who, after losing his parents at a young age, became the pillar of his family while looking after his younger sister, and others just as dear."

He recalled, "Among them were parents waiting for their children to return home, promising young people preparing for a bright future. What seemed like an ordinary day came to a sudden halt due to a torrential downpour, and, in the end, they could not return to the loved ones waiting for them at home."

President Lee said, "There were several warnings about the danger and time to prepare, yet the consequences of overlooking those signals were devastating. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and all those affected."

In particular, he stressed, "Due to heavy rains and extreme weather caused by the climate crisis, such incidents are no longer rare disasters—they have become part of our new normal that we must always be prepared for. Our response must also change. Instead of reacting only after disaster strikes, we must shift to a prevention-centered approach."

He pledged, "The government will implement preemptive measures, even if they seem excessive. We will thoroughly inspect disaster-prone areas, including underpasses, riversides, landslide, and flood-risk zones, and establish a flawless response system so that, as soon as any risk is detected, immediate control measures and evacuations can be carried out."

At the same time, he added, "We will ensure that not even the slightest abnormal signs at the scene are overlooked and that all relevant agencies respond responsibly through a robust system."

President Lee reiterated, "I will never forget that the nation’s foremost duty is to protect the lives and safety of its people. The government will dedicate all possible efforts so that every citizen can live their ordinary lives free of worry, and everyone who leaves home in the morning can return safely to their families in the evening."

The Osong disaster refers to the tragic incident that occurred on July 15, 2023, when the embankment of the Mihocheon River near the Gungpyeong 2 underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, collapsed due to torrential rain, flooding 17 vehicles—including a city bus—passing through the underpass, and resulting in the deaths of 14 people.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.