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President Lee Jae-myung lays a flower in remembrance at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, on July 14, ahead of the second anniversary of the Osong disaster. Fourteen people died in the 2023 accident after the Miho River overflowed and flooded the underpass. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung vowed to enforce a far stricter standard of accountability for public officials involved in fatal accidents caused by negligence, during a visit to the site of the Osong underpass disaster on July 14 — one day before the second anniversary of the tragedy.

“Public officials must be held accountable under a completely different standard if lives are lost due to poor management,” Lee said at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. He was briefed on the status of flood control projects along the nearby Miho River and the underpass facility’s current management.

Before the briefing, President Lee laid a chrysanthemum at a memorial altar set up at the site and observed a 15-second silent tribute. He then looked out at the underpass where cars continued to pass by.

Referring to the 2023 disaster, Lee stressed, “There’s no such thing as a ‘mistake’ for public officials. Their duty is not to make mistakes.” He added, “When accidents happen, responsibility must be strictly enforced. No one should die or be injured because public officials failed to do their jobs.”

The president also questioned Rep. Lee Yeon-hee, North Chungcheong Governor Kim Young-hwan, Environment Vice Minister Geum Han-seung, and Water Resources Policy Director Lee Seung-hwan on whether any systemic improvements were needed. “The roles of local and central governments must be clearly divided and each entity must be held responsible,” Lee emphasized.

He also pressed Governor Kim on where flood-prone zones were located in the province, the reasons for insufficient water retention, and whether both local and national waterways were being properly managed.

Earlier in the day, President Lee visited the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, where he gave a lecture to 350 new fifth-grade public officials.

When asked by a trainee about the most memorable moment since taking office, Lee replied, “When the stock market surged.” Another trainee asked for tips on working at Gyeonggi Provincial Government, to which Lee responded, “Work hard and deliver results.”