Main opposition party criticized for politicizing Gangwon fire

By Park Ji-won

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) is being criticized for allegedly blocking a Cheong Wa Dae official in charge of disaster control from leaving a National Assembly meeting amid a fast-spreading fire in Gangwon Province and politicizing the tragedy.

When the deadly fire started in Goseong on Thursday at 7:17 p.m., National Assembly House Steering Committee members were being briefed by President Moon Jae-in's national security adviser Chung Eui-yong and other presidential officials.

Chung is chief of the presidential office's control tower tackling national disasters. The briefing started in the afternoon and lasted until late into the night.

Committee chief Rep. Hong Young-pyo was informed that the fire was spreading into Sokcho and sent a senior officer to the control tower at 9:30 p.m. About 10 p.m., Hong asked attending lawmakers to allow Chung to leave the Assembly to assist in coming up with measures to deal with the disaster. But the LKP members refused, claiming it was a rare chance to question Cheong Wa Dae officials. In the end, Chung left the Assembly about 10:40 p.m., three hours after the fire broke out.

Cheong Wa Dae vice spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said Chung's absence did not affect the operation of the control tower. However, the LKP is facing growing criticism for its action in dealing with the national disaster and claims that it politicized it.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) members claimed the LKP was prioritizing questioning over people's lives.

“The LKP is so mean,” Rep. Lee Seok-hyun of the DKP said on Twitter. “The steering committee didn't let Chung, who is responsible for coming up with countermeasures for disasters, leave and continued questioning him. Lives matter more than questions.”

Rep. Park Kwang-on of the DPK said it was not the National Assembly, but the LKP that did not let Chung go despite the catastrophic situation.

Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the LKP, claimed Friday, “It was hard for us to know the situation as there was no explanation from the DPK or Chung.”

Na said Hong did not ask the LKP to allow Chung to leave until the steering committee resumed at 9:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, other LKP members attacked President Moon for mishandling the disaster.

LKP spokesman Rep. Min Kyung-wook condemned Moon for calling for cooperation with North Korea in case the fire spread into the North with a post saying “Moon is a commie.” He deleted this after being criticized.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the fire in Goseong started by a roadside Thursday and spread quickly to neighboring areas, especially around Sokcho, as strong winds fanned the flames. So far, 401 homes, 925 livestock facilities, 77 warehouses and 100 buildings have been confirmed destroyed, according to government data. Also, 241 agricultural machines and 15 cars were lost in the disaster.

The Korea Forestry Service earlier said about 250 hectares of forest was burnt in Goseong alone, 250 hectares in Gangneung and 25 hectares in Inje.

Moon designated the fire-affected cities a special disaster zone Saturday so the government can spend money to stabilize residents' livelihoods there.