Koreans Reflect on Their Latest Public Safety Disaster
Koreans are trying to come to terms with the latest public safety disaster:
“Are we living in the Republic of Disasters?
This Internet post captures the fear, anger and frustration felt by a nation that was shocked by a fatal accident during an outdoor concert, when it is still recuperating from the Sewol tragedy.
A ventilation grating collapsed and 27 people standing on it fell 20 meters into an underground parking lot in the middle of a pop concert in Pangyo, south of Seoul, Friday evening.
Sixteen people were killed and 11 others were seriously injured.
“All we have heard since the Sewol ferry sinking is about how to improve safety,” said Lee, a 27-year-old man, who refused to reveal his full name.
“Every time, it’s same. The same headlines, the same government reaction and what not. The newspapers blame lax safety measures as the cause of yet another disaster and the saddest of all is that it all could have been prevented,” Lee said.
“What’s next?” Lee asked himself, and answered: “Some high-ranking government official bows in front of the cameras. Someone resigns, and it seems to quiet down. And another accident happens. It’s so cyclical that mentioning the problem seems boring.”
A 30-year-old office worker who identified herself as Kim suggested that a few security guards on site could have prevented the accident.
“The victims were trying to get a better view of the performers on stage. And I guess those people probably didn’t think too much about whether the grate was strong enough to support them or not. They were just being enthusiastic concert-goers, right?” she said.
“Maybe if someone had warned them, they wouldn’t have risked their lives,” she said. (Korea Times)
You can read more at the link, but like one netizen said in the article would the crowd have listened if there was security there?
Apathy…a worldwide pandemic…
See? This is the GD problem, Koreans don’t see this as something they cause or are responsible for:
“Are we living in the Republic of Disasters?”
No DB you’re not some 3rd party innocently living on the side witnessing this (that would be us weigookins); you are an active participant in this culture of not giving a f**k.
“All we have heard since the Sewol ferry sinking is about how to improve safety,”
Yeah we know, when the f**k are common Koreans going to admit you’re the cause and start making amends? The first step to improve safety would be to start acting responsibly. You’re all like a bunch of alcoholics who refuse to admit they have a drinking problem and bitch that no one is doing anything. Oh wait…
“Every time, it’s same.”
Again dead on, every time Koreans look for someone other than the populous to blame or to do something about it. The entire country should get on their knees and beg for forgiveness for all these people who’ve died under this social policy of “Meh can’t be bothered with taking a little time to be aware and exercise caution”.
““What’s next?” Lee asked himself, and answered: “Some high-ranking government official bows in front of the cameras. Someone resigns, and it seems to quiet down. And another accident happens. It’s so cyclical that mentioning the problem seems boring.””
DB pretty much sums it up… it’s too boring to care about. Notice what Mr. Too Cowardly To Give His F`ing Name doesn’t say is next and that’s Koreans admitting they’re the problem, they need to change their ways, that it’s entirely the fault of all Koreans.
“A 30-year-old office worker who identified herself as Kim suggested that a few security guards on site could have prevented the accident.”
And Smokes suggested maybe not standing on top on one of the all too common ventilation shafts you see everywhere in Seoul because it’s f`ing dangerous. You can see Gangnam butchered slaves anywhere, it ain’t worth dying over. I mean JC this is something I learned as a child while still having to hold my parent’s hand while walking down the street; don’t walk on the f`ing grates. Ms. Kim WTF would have security guards done if Koreans flat-out ignore actual police?
The rest of what cowardly Ms. Kim goes on to babble is more ignorant nonsense meant to deflect responsibility away from joe-korean onto some mysterious official or office that’s been tasked with making sure people don’t do dumb 5hit.
I’ll take that job, make me the “WTF Czar of the Republic of Korea”. I’ll wear a snazzy sash and walk the streets every day looking for people doing dumb 5hit. If I catch you doing dumb 5hit I’ll walk up, say “WTF Korean!?”, smack you in the back of your head, and issue you a fine ranging between one and ten million Won. I get 10% of all fines issued as my payment, I’d be the first weigook chaebol in Korea in a month.
This “disaster” was self-inflicted by and on the careless folks who were standing/jumping/dancing on the metal grating. It is the exact opposite of meek middle-school children being herded back to deathtraps on a sinking ship. It is a tragedy to the individual families; but everyone over the age of six knows tou’re not supposed to stand on those grates.
It would seem that one of the few good things to come out of a litigious society such as ours is that blatant disregard for safety on the part of a company is often paid for very dearly. The downside being that blatant disregard for safety on the part of an individual can pay off handsomely.
I don’t know which I prefer, a somewhat physically safer environment or a society with fewer frivolous lawsuits.
According to some news outlets, the emcee at the event supposedly warned those people several times to get off of that grate. As stated above, would it have even mattered if security was there? The concertgoers would likely have just shoved and pushed their way past to do what they want…
As we learned from the Sewol, there is only one course of action here. I’m not sure which government agency will be disbanded this time. Perhaps the Department of Public Works?
Why couldn’t the vent grill full of GI’s crash, and killing them? Life just isn’t fair.
GIs won’t stand in large numbers on a flimsy grill over a deep hole to watch a gaggle of cloned girls lip sync?
If GIs had been there, they would have been wearing their safety belts, and thus would have been protected.
Sad that Tom is in Canada, and will never have a chance to die in some random Korean tragedy. I guess his cowardice saved his life at least once. He’s right. Life just isn’t fair.