Political leaders rush to quake zones

By Choi Ha-young

The leaders of political parties rushed to the southern port city of Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday, one day after a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit the city which was struck by ongoing aftershocks.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Woo Won-shik consoled Pohang residents, instead of Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae who is now in Washington D.C. for talks with U.S. policymakers and scholars. “The DPK will look into the situation and talk closely with the government regarding special disaster zone designation,” Woo said.

The city can receive special grants once designated as a special disaster zone, which was suggested by Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon on the same day. Woo also touched on seismic design of the buildings and active faults under the area where nuclear power plants are concentrated.

“The ruling camp will push for taxation to support those who will adopt seismic design in privately constructed buildings,” Woo said, citing that around 18 percent of private facilities are equipped with seismic design. “The authorities need to quicken the pace in investigating the active faults across the nation.”

The DPK Chairwoman sent the following message from the United States: “The government should make full effort to ensure the safety of college entrance exam sites, which was delayed for a week due to the earthquake,” Choo said on her Facebook page, Thursday.

Chief of the largest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Hong Joon-pyo vowed to form a special team committed to support the victims. “Ruling and opposition parties agree to support the victims,” Hong said.

He dismissed the ruling camp’s anxiety over the safety of nuclear power plants. “The liberals are fanning groundless concerns. The power plants are built to bear a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which is very powerful.”

In a daily meeting held in Seoul, Thursday, LKP floor leader Chung Woo-taik promised to take care of budgets relevant to earthquakes. Currently, the Assembly is reviewing the budget bill for 2018. “The LKP will look into the bill over seismic design of facilities and shelter for victims,” Chung said.

People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo echoed the call for special disaster zone designation, also vowing bipartisan cooperation. “The People’s Party will make an effort to minimize the damages through bipartisan cooperation,” he said.

“In the medium and long term, the nation should enhance seismic designs for factories and nuclear power plants,” Ahn said. “Regular training to prepare for disasters are also needed.”

Rep. Yoo Seong-min, newly elected leader of the minor conservative Bareun Party, focused on vulnerable groups among the victims gathering in a shelter. “A patient suffering from terminal cancer and a pregnant woman were also staying at a public gymnasium. I told the Pohang city officials to provide better places for the vulnerable,” Yoo said.

On the same day, progressive Justice Party Chairwoman Lee Jeong-mi reiterated the party’s anti-nuclear power movement. She visited Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant, only 45 kilometers away from the epicenter to inspect its safety status.

Cheong Wa Dae dispatched Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon to the affected region. After being briefed about the countermeasures, Lee inspected shelters and affected sites.

All parties commonly lauded the government’s decision to postpone the college entrance exam, which otherwise would have taken place Thursday. President Moon Jae-in was briefed about the earthquake during his flight Wednesday and convened an emergency meeting right after arriving Cheong Wa Dae.