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Ferry disaster: South Korea's president apologises for official failings Ferry disaster: South Korea's president apologises for official failings
(4 months later)
South Korea's president has apologised for her South Korea's president has apologised for her government's failure to prevent a ferry disaster that left some 300 people dead or missing.
government's failure to prevent a ferry disaster that left some 300 Two days after her prime minister resigned over the tragedy, Park Geun-Hye voiced profound regret at the systemic and regulatory failings that contributed to the capsize of the 6,825-tonne Sewol on 16 April.
people dead or missing. "I feel so regretful for having been unable to correct such long-running evils and letting an accident like this take place," she said in a statement to her cabinet that was broadcast on national television.
Two days after her prime minister resigned over the tragedy, Park Geun-Hye voiced profound regret at the systemic and regulatory failings that Park's government has been widely criticised over perceived corruption and lax safety standards that may have led to the disaster, with claims that the ferry was overloaded and the passenger list inaccurate and incomplete.
contributed to the capsize of the 6,825-tonne Sewol on 16 April. Relatives of the more than 100 passengers still missing have blasted the response to the sinking, saying delays in launching the rescue cost lives.
"I feel so regretful for having been unable to correct such
long-running evils and letting an accident like this take place," she
said in a statement to her cabinet that was broadcast on national
television.
Park's government has been widely criticised over perceived
corruption and lax safety standards that may have led to the disaster,
with claims that the ferry was overloaded and the passenger list inaccurate and incomplete.
Relatives of the more than 100 passengers still missing have blasted the response to the sinking, saying delays in launching the
rescue cost lives.
"I don't know how to apologise for the failure to prevent this accident and for the insufficient first response," Park said."I don't know how to apologise for the failure to prevent this accident and for the insufficient first response," Park said.
"I am sorry to the people and heavy-hearted that many precious lives were lost.""I am sorry to the people and heavy-hearted that many precious lives were lost."
Earlier on Tuesday the president had travelled to Ansan, south Earlier on Tuesday the president had travelled to Ansan, south of Seoul, where she paid her respects to a memorial for the hundreds of schoolchildren who died in the disaster.
of Seoul, where she paid her respects to a memorial for the hundreds of
schoolchildren who died in the disaster.
Of the 476 people on board the Sewol, 325 were students from the same high school in Ansan. Only 75 of the students were rescued.Of the 476 people on board the Sewol, 325 were students from the same high school in Ansan. Only 75 of the students were rescued.