Chung Hee-yong, secretary-general of the People Power Party (PPP), stressed that "any move to exploit even this tragic accident politically by linking it to the election must be thoroughly guarded against," referring to the collapse of the Seosomun overpass in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
"I pray for the repose of the deceased and offer my deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families," Chung said in a Facebook post Wednesday.
He particularly emphasized that "now is the time to focus our efforts on swiftly resolving the accident," adding that "there can be no political strife when it comes to the lives and safety of the people."
"Candidates of the People Power Party across the country will approach the election with a prudent and responsible attitude to avoid any words or actions that may hurt the people," he said.
To fire authorities and other relevant agencies, he requested that they "swiftly and closely manage the scene," urging them to "thoroughly assess the situation on the ground to prevent secondary damage and to ensure the safety of firefighters during the recovery process."
