Environmental groups and families of disaster victims gathered on July 17, South Korea’s Constitution Day, to urge the government to guarantee citizens’ right to live in a safe environment. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – Environmental groups and families of disaster victims gathered on July 17, South Korea’s Constitution Day, to urge the government to guarantee citizens’ right to live in a safe environment.
At a press conference held at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions office in central Seoul, the Climate Crisis Emergency Action coalition called on the state to swiftly implement policies addressing the climate crisis.
They cited Article 34 of the South Korean Constitution, which stipulates that the state must strive to prevent disasters and protect citizens from such risks.
The coalition highlighted alarming climate trends, noting that the number of heatwave days has doubled from 7.7 in 2020 to 14.2 in 2023. This year’s rainfall has already reached 124.3% of the average.
“Heatwaves, heavy rains, wildfires, landslides, typhoons, and droughts are intensifying each year,” the group stated, labeling these events as “climate disasters.”
The activists emphasized that climate disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, exacerbating social inequalities. They called for fundamental changes in social structures that perpetuate climate injustice.
Jang Sung-sik, a family member of a victim of last year’s Osong underpass tragedy, also spoke at the conference. He described the incident, which claimed 14 lives when a temporary levee collapsed during heavy rains, as “not just an accident, but a dereliction of duty by the state.” Jang demanded a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Representatives from various labor sectors, including delivery workers and construction laborers, joined the conference to advocate for safer working conditions amidst climate disasters.
Park Sang-ho, a delivery worker, referenced a recent incident where a Coupang delivery worker went missing in flood waters in North Gyeongsan Province. “Despite record-breaking rainfall, Coupang did not halt deliveries, and the worker lacked the right to stop work for safety reasons,” Park explained.
Kim Ji-soo, an official from the Rider Union branch of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union, criticized food delivery platforms for incentivizing workers to continue deliveries during extreme weather conditions.
“Delivery workers risk their lives daily due to the absence of protective measures for platform workers,” Kim stated, urging immediate action to address these concerns.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
