Sponsored By

Korean President likens ferry crew's actions to 'murder'

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has compared the actions of some of the crew from capsized ferry Sewol as “akin to murder”.

Marcus Hand, Editor

April 21, 2014

1 Min Read
Kalyakan - stock.adobe.com

The confirmed death toll from the ferry’s sinking has continued to rise with 64 dead and 238 missing as of Monday morning. The government of Ms Park has come under fire for its response to the tragedy. The President condemned the actions of some of the crew, who failed to instruct passengers to wear life jackets and move evacuation points, and then escaped the sinking vessel while many of its passengers were left to perish.

"Above all, the conduct of the captain and some crew members is unfathomable from the viewpoint of common sense, and it was like an act of murder that cannot and should not be tolerated,” Park was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as telling aides.

 Captain Lee Joon-seok, and two other crew members were arrested last week on negligence charges. On Monday prosecutors announcing four further arrests - two first mates, one second mate and a chief engineer.

The search and rescue operation has managed to pull some 179 people to safety since the 6,825-tonne ferry sank last Wednesday carrying 476 passengers and crew.

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like