President Lee Holds Emergency Meeting on Nepal Floods: "There Is No Overreaction When It Comes to Public Safety"

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung adjusted his schedule on the 27th and began an emergency review of the situation after a massive flood in Nepal left many people missing, including South Koreans. He postponed a senior aides' meeting that had been set for the afternoon and convened an emergency meeting to review the status of Korean nationals and discuss rescue and search measures. He also delayed a luncheon with lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea that had been scheduled for the 28th, saying all efforts must be focused on ensuring public safety.
President Lee chaired an emergency meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul to address the situation involving Korean nationals affected by the Nepal floods. At the meeting, he said, "The whereabouts of nine of our nationals who were working at a hydropower construction site in Nepal remain unconfirmed, and they appear to be in a very dangerous situation. Another 10 are stranded in a temporary shelter." He added, "As I always say, there is no overreaction when it comes to protecting the lives and safety of the people. I ask everyone to mobilize all available resources and do their utmost."
Earlier, on the 26th local time, a large-scale flood hit north-central Nepal, reportedly causing hundreds of casualties. Nine South Korean employees from Korea South-East Power Co., Ltd. and Doosan Enerbility, who had been working on a hydropower plant project in the area, have also lost contact. Another 10 South Koreans were stranded but were confirmed to be safe.
President Lee stressed, "I ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant ministries, the embassy on the ground, the rapid response team now en route, and the companies involved locally to mobilize all available personnel and resources."
He also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Nepalese government. "Please activate all diplomatic channels with the Nepalese government and actively discuss how to secure the resources needed for search and rescue," he said. "It would also be good to review in advance what personnel or other support we may be able to provide to the Nepalese government."
He repeatedly stressed, "Please carefully check whether there are any other Korean nationals who have been affected, beyond those currently out of contact. There may be additional Koreans beyond those confirmed so far, so please pay close attention to that as well."
He also said, "Please thoroughly check the safety of our nationals staying in nearby areas, and quickly implement guidance and protective measures so that no further damage occurs."
President Lee added, "From what I have been briefed so far, roads and bridges have been washed away, making access to the site difficult, and communications are also not very smooth. I will check the situation again later. And beyond the victims or those who have evacuated there, the families of those people must also be in a very painful situation. Please take that into account and look after them carefully."
He also expressed condolences to the Nepalese government. "I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Nepal and to the Nepalese government. Please review what measures our government can take to support a swift response to the loss of life and property, as well as early recovery," he said. "Please make sure there is no shortage of humanitarian support. This is an emergency, so if rescue is possible, do everything you can to save lives, and after confirming the situation, do your utmost in the search efforts as well."
President Lee said, "To all of our staff on the ground, including our consul and the employees of the company involved, I know your hearts must be racing. Please do everything possible to prevent the situation from worsening for the victims, their families, and those taking shelter locally."
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter