Vice-principal of South Korea school in ferry disaster commits suicide

[waltky]

So. Korean Sewol disaster ferry raised after three years...

Sewol disaster ferry raised in South Korea after three years
Thu, 23 Mar 2017 - The Sewol sank on 16 April 2014 killing 304 people, almost all school children on a trip.

A ferry has been raised from the sea bed, three years after it sank in one of South Korea's deadliest disasters. The Sewol sank off the south-western island of Jindo on 16 April 2014 killing 304 people, almost all school children on a trip. It has been winched to the surface so a platform can be inserted under it for it to be towed ashore. It is expected to arrive at port in less than two weeks, where it will be met by the families of victims. The bodies of nine victims are believed to still be trapped inside the sunken ship, and raising it was one of the central demands of their families.

Hundreds of workers in a Chinese salvage team were involved in the raising​

The government bowed to pressure to raise the 6,825 tonne vessel, one of the most complex operations ever attempted, said the the BBC's Stephen Evans on Jindo Island. The 16-year-old daughter of Huh Hong-Hwan was one victim whose remains were never found. "To see the Sewol again, I can't describe how I'm feeling right now," Mr Huh told the AFP news agency as he watched the raising of the ship from a boat nearby.

Former President Park Geun-hye came under intense pressure over the sinking at the time​

The sinking was blamed on a combination of illegal redesigns, cargo overloading, the inexperience of the crew member steering the vessel, and lax government regulations. The ship's captain was later convicted of murder. Anger over the response of the authorities after the disaster contributed to the unpopularity of former President Park Geun-hye, who was recently ousted.

Sewol disaster ferry raised in South Korea after three years - BBC News

 

[waltky]

So. Korea liable for botched Sewol ferry rescue...

So. Korea liable for botched ferry rescue, court rules
Fri, Jul 20, 2018 -
The South Korean government is liable for the botched rescue of more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, who drowned when their overloaded ferry sank, a court ruled yesterday, ordering the state to compensate relatives.

The South Korean government is liable for the botched rescue of more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, who drowned when their overloaded ferry sank, a court ruled yesterday, ordering the state to compensate relatives. In a landmark ruling, the Seoul Central District Court awarded the next of kin of each deceased passenger from the Sewol ferry 200 million won (US$177,000), a further 40 million won for each of their parents, and smaller sums for other relatives.

The vast majority of the victims of the 2014 sinking off the southwestern coast, one of the country’s worst maritime disasters, were high-school students on an excursion and the sinking dealt a crushing blow to now-ousted South Korean president Park Geun-hye. As the 6,800-tonne boat was taking on water, the passengers were told by the crew to stay put, while the captain and his colleagues were first to leave the vessel. Skipper Lee Jun-seok was later sentenced to life in prison and 14 other crew members up to 12 years for their actions.

Families of missing passengers in the sinking of the ferry Sewol look at the waters close to the sinking site from a port on Jindo Island in South Korea on April 17, 2014.​

A coast guard patrol boat commander was also jailed for four years for failing to alert passengers to imminent danger. “The commander failed to carry out his duty to protect the lives of people, leaving the passengers waiting for help without knowing the situation,” the court said. “The victims’ relatives are still suffering from post-traumatic stress,” it said. Ferry operator Cheonghaejin was equally liable, the court said, and was ordered to share the costs.

Investigations concluded the disaster was the result of numerous human factors, including an illegal redesign, an overloaded cargo bay and inexperienced crew. The government previously offered the students’ families 470 million won each, but relatives of 116 students and two other passengers refused the compensation and took it to court, seeking about 1 billion won for each victim and a declaration the state was liable.

S Korea liable for botched ferry rescue, court rules - Taipei Times

 

[SweetSue92]

I have taken kids on field trips. Not out to sea, thank God. It is very, very stressful to take children who are not your own out of their school, even with parent chaperones, even with parent permission. I'm on edge every single minute we are gone. I get home and my family knows--I'm done for the evening, I'm just exhausted.

So I can't really understand what this Vice-Principal felt but I do understand the weight of responsibility--and then to have it turn into a horror. What a heartbreak and an absolute tragedy.

 

[Silhouette]

Vice-principal of South Korea school in ferry disaster commits suicide

Asian cultures...

My kids actually went on a field trip out to sea. My brother did too. Accidents happen. Didn't that jackass consider how his death would affect his students? They just went through the shock and horror of their classmates' ordeal. Then to top it off he saddles them all with his chicken shit exit of the world? Stupid.

 

[Unkotare]

You realize this happened 4 years ago, right?