Moon calls for measures to improve public safety

Apr 17, 2018, 10:02 am

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon attends the government-led memorial for the Sewol ferry disaster in Ansan, Gyeonggi, Monday./ Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporter Joo Sung-sik

The government will reveal the result of the recent two-month state inspection of public facilities, also known as "Public Safety Review" to the public next month as scheduled ahead of the National Safety Day, which has been designated to reflect upon the importance of public safety in the wake of the Sewol ferry disaster. In addition, the government will review the problems found during the diagnosis and announce improvement plans. However, it has decided to adjust when to release the results of safety inspection on local governments so as not to affect the local elections in June.

President Moon Jae-in ordered his officials to set up public safety measures at his meeting with top aides at the Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, saying, "The reason why the government designated April 16th as National Safety Day is to apologize to the children of the sunken ferry Sewol, to help us never forget the incident, and to keep the promise of making South Korea a safe country."

"The recent poll suggests that 51% of the Korean people think the country's disaster response system has not changed much since the Sewol ferry disaster, and the government cannot deny it with confidence," the president said. "We need to remind ourselves that the true way to honor the Sewol ferry victims is building a safe Republic of Korea."

"Ahead of the National Safety Day, the two-month Public Safety Review has been completed last week. I ask you to review the problems found during those inspection and report comprehensive measures to enhance public safety that can gain public support and recognition during the upcoming briefing on the results scheduled in May," Moon said.

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon attended the government-led memorial for the Sewol ferry disaster in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday. "The government is refining comprehensive measures to make Korea a safe country at the level of developed countries," Lee said.

The prime minister said that the government tried to differentiate the safety review from the past three nationwide inspections by inspecting 298,000 public facilities in two months and introducing real-name system of diagnosticians and supervisors for the first time. He said he will open up the results the review to the public as much as possible so that anyone can easily access them.

"We will disclose the safety level of each local government," the prime minister said. However, its release date will be adjusted due to the concerns of the election committee that it could influence the local elections.

At the same time, the government plans to carry out a thorough investigation to uncover the truth of the Sewol ferry disaster. "The Special Investigation Committee for Social Disasters has resumed its activity," Lee said. "I believe that the committee will fully cooperate with the Sewol Ferry Investigation Committee in identifying the truth of the Sewol disaster," he said. "Ansan, Incheon, and Jindo are carrying out projects for memory, healing, and safety. The government will help to make sure that the projects are carried out smoothly."

#Sewol ferry #public safety #National Safety Day #Moon Jae-in #April 16th