South Korean president dismantles coast guard after ferry disaster
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
President Park Geun-hye sheds tears as she recalls ferry victims
She says the coast guard "failed in its duty to carry out the rescue operation"
The Sewol ferry sank in the Yellow Sea en route to a resort island on April 16
Most of the passengers were students on a high-school field trip
Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korea's President made an emotional apology Monday over the ferry disaster that killed close to 300 people last month and said she would dismantle the country's coast guard.
"As the President who should be responsible for people's life and security, I am sincerely apologizing to the people for having to suffer pain," said President Park Geun-hye in a televised speech. "The final responsibility for not being able to respond properly lies on me."
The Sewol ferry sank en route to the resort island of Jeju on April 16, leaving more than 304 people dead or missing. Most of the passengers were high school students on a field trip.
"As a President, I feel a sense of sorrow for not being able to protect them during their family trip," said Park, whose approval ratings have dropped significantly in the weeks since the sinking.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye weeps while delivering a speech to the nation about the sunken ferry Sewol at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, May 19. More than 200 bodies have been found and nearly 100 people remain missing after the ferry sank April 16 off South Korea's southwest coast.
Yellow ribbons honoring the victims flap in the wind as a hearse carrying a victim's body leaves Danwon High School in Ansan on April 24. Most of the people on board the ferry were high school students on their way to the resort island of Jeju.
Ferry CEO charged with negligence
The Sewol disaster caused widespread outrage in South Korea over lax safety standards and the failure to rescue more people as the ship foundered.
Questions have been raised over the government's oversight of the ferry industry and its handling of the crisis.
Coast guard under fire
Park slammed the coast guard for its role in the disaster, saying it "failed in its duty to carry out the rescue operation."
The coast guard has been criticized amid suggestions it could have saved more passengers as the ferry was sinking into the frigid waters of the Yellow Sea.
"After serious consideration, I've decided to dismantle the coast guard," Park said. "The investigation and information roles will be transferred to the police while the rescue and salvage operation and ocean security roles will be transferred to the department for national safety which will be newly established."
Shedding tears, she proposed building a monument to the victims and setting aside April 16 as a day to focus on safety.
"I, again, pray for those who passed away during the incident and express my deep condolence to the families," Park said.
She singled out people -- both passengers and crew members -- who perished trying to save the lives of others.
"I believe these people are the real heroes of our generation," Park said.
Captain, others charged
The captain and crew members who survived have come under particularly heavy criticism. They are accused of telling passengers to stay put as the ferry began to capsize and then being among the first people to leave the stricken vessel.
A chief prosecutor announced last week that the captain and three other crew members have been charged with murder. Eleven other crew members have been indicted on charges of abandonment and violating a ship safety act.
Investigators have identified problems with the cargo, including overloading and the failure to secure it properly, as being among the likely reasons for the Sewol's sinking. They have said modifications to the ship last year, in which passenger cabins were added to increase its capacity, may have contributed to problems with the ship's balance.
The chief executive of the ferry operator is facing charges of causing death by negligence, as well as causing the capsizing of the ship in the line of duty.
The investigation into the disaster is ongoing, as is the underwater search for the 18 people who remain missing from the sinking.
By K.J. Kwon, Paula Hancocks and Jethro Mullen, CNN
May 19, 2014 -- Updated 1132 GMT (1932 HKT)
パク大統領が謝罪 海洋警察を解体へ5月19日 12時07分 韓国のパク・クネ大統領は、先月起きた旅客船沈没事故について、多くの犠牲を出した最終的な責任は自分にあるとして謝罪するとともに、海洋警察を解体して安全対策や救助を専門に行う新たな機関を設立する方針を発表しました。
先月１６日に韓国南部で起きた旅客船セウォル号の沈没事故では、２８６人の死亡が確認され、今なお１８人の行方が分かっていません。
パク大統領は今回の事故について１９日、国民に対する談話を発表し、「助けることができた生徒たちを救えず、初動対応に多くの混乱があった。最終的な責任は大統領である私にある」などとしたうえで、「国民の苦痛に対し心から謝罪する」と頭を下げました。
そして、「海洋警察は本来の任務を果たせなかった。事故直後に即座に、積極的に救助を行えば犠牲を大幅に減らすことができた」と指摘し、海洋警察を解体し安全対策や緊急時の救助活動を専門に行う新たな機関を設立する方針を発表しました。
また、船の安全を守ることができなかった背景には官と民の癒着があるとして、公務員のいわゆる天下りを大幅に制限するとともに、公職に民間の専門家をより多く採用するなどの制度改革を行うとしています。
そして、最後に友人を救おうとして犠牲となった高校生などの名前を挙げながら涙を流し、安全な国をつくる強い意欲を示しました。
今回の事故を巡っては、船長や船会社の責任に加えて、現場に到着した海洋警察が沈没するまでの間に船内の乗客の救助をほとんど行わなかったことや、誤った発表を繰り返したことなど政府の対応に批判が強まっており、来月初めに行われる統一地方選挙を前にパク大統領は対応を迫られていました。
分かれる市民の反応パク・クネ大統領が旅客船の沈没事故について国民に謝罪し、海洋警察を解体する方針を示したことについて、事故現場近くで捜索活動を待っている行方不明者の家族らは記者会見し、「海洋警察が大きく動揺して捜索に支障が出ることは明らかだ。不明者の捜索について全く言及がなく、最後の１人まで救助しようと考えているのか」などと反発しています。
一方、市民の反応は賛否が分かれていて、ソウル市の６０代の男性は「涙で大統領の気持ちが感じられた。海洋警察を解体して腐敗を無くさなければならない」と評価し、別の５０代の男性も「解体は当然だ」と支持していましたが、４０代の女性は「大統領は自分には責任はないと言っているようだった。涙は信用できない」などと談話への不満を述べました。
メディアの反応も分かれていて、大手紙の東亜日報が「大統領の涙に共感する」というインターネット上の声を引用して肯定的に伝えたのに対し、進歩系のハンギョレ新聞は「涙とジェスチャーでは誤りを覆い隠せない」と批判しています。
また、野党の新政治民主連合は、謝罪するのが遅く事故原因についても全容が解明されていないなどと指摘したうえで、「すべての責任を海洋警察に押しつけている。新たな機関を設立しても実効性がないものを作り出すのではないかという疑問がある」などと批判しています。
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