Growing Public Anger in Devastated Areas

Five farmers brought 40ℓ of gasoline and set fire in front of the Modong-myeon office, Gyeongbuk Province in the afternoon Sep 2. They said that they could not ship grapefruits because the road in front of their village was severed by typhoon Rusa. They vented their frustration, saying, "The government cannot produce countermeasures when farmers are suffering from Rusa`s devastation. What kind of the government is it?"

The public`s frustration toward the government is about to explode due to a series of natural disasters such as red tide, torrential rains and typhoon. Those who have been dislocated are confronting with government officials in a number of regions, protesting the government`s lax response. Politicians, who toured the devastated places, were humiliated by those hit hard, who said, "Mind your own political business."

▽Infuriated Public

About 30 residents in Subi-myeon, Gyeongbuk Province vehemently protested to myeong officials, who toured the damaged sites, about their failure to promptly respond to the devastation. In Unbong-eup, Jeonbuk Province, Kim Sang-ok, 56, poured excretion in the eup office, complaining about over-due restoration work by the administration.

Park, 49, had to watch his 170,000 fishes died because of the red tide in his fishing farm. He stabbed a counselor in the local legislature while he was protesting against public officials` negligence in dealing with damage cause by the typhoon.

The public`s anger is swinging toward the extreme especially in the Yeongnam region, which was hit hardest by the combination of the red tide, torrential rains and typhoon Rusa.

A citizen in his 40s in Daegu said, "Nothing has been achieved during the current administration. The public`s feeling can be expressed by two words; indifference and cynicism."

▽ Politicians` Visits Make Things Worse

Visits of politicians and high-ranking government officials have added fuel to the public anger.

Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Chun Yun-chul visited the Gimchun City Hall on the 3rd in order to get a glimpse of the situation. When he met Gimchun Mayor Park Pal-yong, Park asked for helicopters to provide necessities for the dislocated. But Chun said,갏 should consult with the military on that matter. I have to go since I am very busy." Park cynically asked back, "Why are you here when you are that busy?"

Han Myeong-suk, Minister of Gender Equality, Roh Moo-hyun, presidential candidate of the Millennium Democratic Party, and Moon Dong-shin, president of the Korea Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure Corporation visited Yeongdong-gun, Chungbuk Province on the 4th. Earlier on the 2nd, Health Minister Kim Sung-ho and about 20 politicians and government officials visited there. The public officials in Yeongdong-gun had to pay more attention to receive them than to conduct restoration work.

Cho Dae-yeop, professor of Korea University, said, "The government`s failure to promptly respond to the situation has turned the sense of deprivation of the public to anger. In order to prevent the public anger from expanding to collective activity, the government should provide assistance as soon as possible."

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