President Lee Jae-myung, marking the third anniversary of the Osong underpass disaster, said, "I firmly promise to remember each and every victim for a long time and to carry that memory forward as our responsibility."
On the 15th, the president sent a eulogy to the "July 15 Osong underpass disaster third-anniversary memorial service" held at the North Chungcheong Provincial Office, noting, "I wholeheartedly pray for the repose of the victims," and making the remarks. The eulogy was read by Jeon Seong-hwan, senior presidential secretary for listening and integration.
The president began, "On this day three years ago, we lost 14 people who were so precious to us, including a bus driver father who reliably kept citizens safe on their commutes, and a kind older brother who, after losing his parents early, became a pillar for his family."
He continued, "Some were parents waiting for their children to come home, and others were diligent young people preparing for a hopeful future," adding, "An utterly ordinary day came to a halt before a sudden downpour, and in the end, beloved family members did not make it back home."
He went on, "There were warnings of danger and time to prepare, but the consequences of overlooking those signals were devastating," adding, "I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and victims."
He also said, "We will pursue preemptive preparations to a degree that may seem excessive," emphasizing, "We will thoroughly inspect disaster-vulnerable areas, including around underpasses and rivers, and zones at risk of landslides and flooding, and we will establish a response system to ensure immediate control and evacuation when danger is detected."
He added, "I will not forget that the state's foremost duty is to protect the people's lives and safety," pledging, "The government will do everything it can to ensure that those who leave home in the morning return safely to their families in the evening."
The Osong disaster occurred on July 15, 2023, when the bank of the Miho River near the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Cheongju, collapsed. As water flowed in due to heavy downpours, 17 vehicles, including a city bus passing through the underpass, were submerged and 14 people died.