The court has pleaded not guilty to the command of the Coast Guard, including former Maritime Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun, who was handed over to trial for failing to properly rescue the Sewol ferry. The bereaved family strongly opposed it, saying it was an indulgence trial.
This is reporter Ahn Hee-jae.
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When the broadcast that said that the Sewol ferry’s hull was already tilted at 45 degrees did not move, the Coast Guard Command Department, including Maritime Police Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun, received a report of the situation and commanded the rescue.
Arriving at the site, the Haekyung 123 suit, however, left with only Captain Lee Jun-seok and the crew, and 303 people died in the sunken Sewol ferry.
123 Suit, who was accused of business negligence and fatality, was admitted that he incurred many victims as a result of failing to induce passengers to withdraw, and sentenced to three years in prison in the Supreme Court.
The Sewol ferry disaster special team, which was launched late, also handed over 11 commanders, including Chief Kim, to trial.
After a year of trial, all the court’s conclusions were innocent.
It is difficult to predict that the Sewol ferry will sink without the commander who was not present at the site, and it is difficult to predict that the captain or the Coast Guard 123 suit will not rescue.
However, two people, including the former Mokpo Coast Guard, who had to write false reports to avoid censure, were convicted and sentenced to probation.
The prosecution said it would appeal immediately, and the bereaved family criticized it, saying it was a verdict giving relief to the rescue authorities.
[유경근/416가족협의회 집행위원장 : 다시 2014년 이전으로 우리 사회를 돌려보내려는 저 재판부의 재판 결과! 이 재판부는 반드시 책임져야 할 것입니다.]
The bereaved families also requested a re-investigation of all of the allegations, saying it was wrong from the investigation of the special forces.