South Korea laments the Ferry Disaster's 10th anniversary

The deadliest maritime accident to ever strike South Korea occurred ten years ago on Tuesday, when the overcrowded Sewol ferry sank, killing hundreds of schoolchildren.

The incident is still contentious and politically sensitive in South Korea today. The disaster and the disastrous rescue attempts handed a crushing blow to then-president Park Geun-hye, who was subsequently ousted in 2017.

For a special ceremony early on Tuesday, a Coast Guard vessel brought some of the victims' families to the scene of the disaster. The families cried out the names of the departed and tossed flowers into the water at the location off the coast of South Korea, which is designated by a yellow buoy. There was then a moment of silence.

Source Image: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/files/2024/04/Salvage-ferry-2.jpg

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose party suffered a resounding defeat in last week's legislative elections, expressed his sympathies to the families of the victims.

The present administration's response to the Itaewon tragedy and the marine's passing, experts say, proved to be an election liability. This includes the president's denial of a bill that would have permitted a special probe into the Seoul crowd crush.

South Korea had to adapt following the Sewol ferry accident. He said on Facebook on Tuesday, "Unfortunately, a culture of 'every man for himself' reappeared, resulting in the loss of precious lives in Itaewon... and the (late) marine."

News Source: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/232144/south-korea-mourns-10th-anniversary-of-ferry-disaster