Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Kim In-chul

May 30, 2019 14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

In response to the accident involving a tour boat carrying Korean nationals, which occurred in the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary, at dawn today, May 30, the government of the Republic of Korea has set up its central crisis management center, headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, and is dealing with the situation and rendering assistance to families of those involved in the accident, and has dispatched an emergency response team.

The ROK government rushed to Hungary today an emergency response team, led by Deputy-Minister for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lee Sang-jin, and composed of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Fire Agency. The ROK Embassy in Hungary, on its part, is doing everything it can, including coordinating with local authorities, and extending assistance at the accident site and the hospitals.

Minister Kang will head to Hungary today to oversee the efforts to deal with the situation on the ground. The ROK government, in close cooperation with the Hungarian government, will do everything it can for search, rescue and assistance efforts for the Korean nationals to move forward as swiftly and effectively as possible.

Thank you.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)

* unofficial translation