President Lee: “Government must save lives ... We must reduce preventable deaths”

[Financial News] On the 28th, President Lee Jae-myung stressed that protecting people’s lives is the government’s foremost duty, saying, “There is no value that takes precedence over the state protecting the lives and safety of its people.” With the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon disaster just a day away, he looked back on past disasters and tragedies, underscored the state’s responsibility and called for practical safety measures.
At the second full meeting of the National Life and Safety Committee at Cheong Wa Dae that afternoon, President Lee chaired the meeting and said, “I have repeatedly stressed that our government must be one that saves people’s lives. There are groups that use the slogan ‘Life Before Money,’ and I think that may indeed be a very important value.”
The meeting was attended not only by government and civilian committee members but also by family members of victims of disasters, tragedies and industrial accidents. Addressing the bereaved families, President Lee said, “I offer my deepest condolences and respect for your efforts to endure years of pain and work to build a safer society.”
In particular, he stressed the importance of protecting people’s lives and safety, saying, “As today’s slogan suggests, ‘May we get through today safely’ has now become a core responsibility of this country. In the past, the phrase was written at dangerous workplaces or on transport workers’ vehicles, and safety was something people had to protect themselves, rather than something someone else would protect for them. But now, even if the economy grows and the country develops, it means nothing if people lose their lives at work and cannot return home.” He emphasized that protecting people’s lives and safety is no less important than economic growth.
President Lee noted, “Tomorrow will mark the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon disaster,” adding, “There are still many deaths that could clearly have been prevented, and many lives that could have been saved, both before and after the Itaewon disaster.”
He stressed, “We must always engage in painful self-reflection on whether the state properly protected people’s lives in all the tragedies and disasters we have experienced, and whether the victims and their families received sufficient protection.”
He also mentioned the Basic Act on Life Safety, which is due to take effect this December. President Lee said, “This law embodies the reflection and resolve of all our people to ensure that precious lives are never again lost because of the state’s absence,” and urged, “We must never forget that this law was built on countless tears and suffering.”
He said, “What matters from now on is actually guaranteeing the people’s right to safety, as set out in the law. The success of enacting this law will depend in part on how many measures are put in place, but it should be judged more by how many more lives are actually protected and saved.”
President Lee reiterated, “Even at this very moment, many people are losing their lives in communities across our society. We must act faster as a government and reduce the deaths that could have been prevented.” He added, “I hope that the experiences and wisdom each of you brings together today will provide a precious foundation for saving even one more life in the Republic of Korea in the future.”
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun, Seong Seok-woo Reporter