‘Failure to rescue the Sewol ferry’

At the time of the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014, officers of the Maritime Police Agency were convicted of failing rescue activities and causing death or injury to passengers. The court judged that it was difficult to predict that the captain, who was the primary abandonment commander, would only broadcast “stay still” and take no action based on the information that the Coast Guard command had before the Golden Time. It was also considered that the person in charge of command at the site did not follow the orders of the Coast Guard command.

On the 15th, the 22nd Division of the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement (presiding judge Yang Chul-han) sentenced 11 people, including former Maritime Police Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun and former West Sea Regional Maritime Police Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun and former West Sea Regional Maritime Police Administration, to acquittal of the charges of negligence and injury. Kim Moon-hong, former chief of the Mokpo Maritime Police Department, was sentenced to three years of probation in one year and June of imprisonment for allegations of abuse of authority and preparation of false official documents.

The judge first pointed out to the situation before the rescue personnel arrived, “Of course, you should have prepared for the worst situation in which the sinking will proceed. The initial measures were insufficient.” However, he said, “At the time of the accident, the most suitable place to communicate between the rescue headquarters and the Sewol ferry is Jindo VTS, and Jindo VTS encouraged the decision to leave the election from 9:7 am.”

Pointing out that the information was not disseminated to aviation rescue personnel, etc., “In light of the initial correspondence in the case, it would have been thought that the aviation rescue forces had confirmed basic information about the accident.” It is difficult to say that this is recognized,” he explained.

Regarding the situation after 9:30 a.m., the judge said, “Jindo VTS reported that it would decide whether to escape when the rescue forces arrived, and the coastal rescue forces knew that it was in communication with the Sewol ferry.” , It could not be expected that the captain of the Sewol ferry and the crew would cut off communication and leave the ship first without stopping the onboard broadcast to wait.”

In addition, “Even around 9:55, if an escape order was broadcast under the command of former chief Kim Moon-hong, passengers who were waiting in the 5th floor or in the cabin could have escaped enough.” “The on-site commander did not respond to the order and did not broadcast. “He is being punished in related cases.”

The judge pointed out that “the usual training for distress in the sea was not properly conducted, and there was no equipment. It is a problem at the level of the entire maritime police organization.” However, he said, “The fact that the system has not been maintained can impose management responsibility on the defendants, who are commanders, but it is not enough to view this as a basis for business negligence in relation to rescue work.” Former Chief Kim Moon-hong was convicted of the charge of revising the document of `Mokpo Chief’s Actions and Instructions` that he commanded the evacuation induction measure in the early days of the accident and the charge of submitting the revised document to the headquarters.

After completing the judgment, the judge added, “The Sewol ferry case that occurred in 2014 was a case that seriously hurt not only the victims and their families, but all the people,” and added, “I will accept whether I support or criticize the judgment of the court.”

Regarding the decision, the Sewol family council said, “The Special Investigation Team of the Sewol ferry (this verdict) has invited itself,” and said, “It is not an investigation to find out the cause and find responsibility in a comprehensive way. “I thought about it,” he said. It also announced that “the court will also be responsible for the ruling today.” They filed an appeal against the suspicion that the Sewol ferry special team had allegedly dismissed the suspicion of external pressure in the investigation and investigation of the survivors of the ROK military security guard and the National Intelligence Service. In response, the Sewol Special Corps said, “It is difficult to understand the result. I will appeal”.

Former Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun said, “As a person who was responsible for the safety of the sea, I once again apologize for not preventing such an accident.”

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