Four SEWOL ferry crew members charged with manslaughter

On May 15, South Korean prosecutors indicted four crew members of the SEWOL ferry that sank last month, including ferry captain Lee Joon Seok, on charges of manslaughter due to lack of responsibility that left more than 300 passengers dead or missing.

The defendants were criticized by the public for leaving the ferry while it was sinking after asking passengers, mostly high school students, to stay seated.

SEWOL ferry captain Lee Joon Seok was charged with manslaughter. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

In addition, 11 rescued ferry crew members were also prosecuted for violating relevant laws.

Prosecutors have opened an office in Mokpo, Jeolla Province, South Korea, and expanded their investigation to include ferry crew members, employees of Chonghaejin Marine, the company that operated the SEWOL ferry, and the family of Kim Han-Sik, the company's chairman.

In a statement last month, President Park Geun-hye said the actions of the captain and crew of the SEWOL ferry could constitute "murder."

The ferry SEWOL sank on April 16 while traveling from the port city of Incheon to the resort island of Jeju. There were 476 people on board, including 235 students from Danwon High School and 14 teachers on a tour of Jeju.

As of May 15, 174 people had been rescued, 281 people had died and 23 people were still missing.

President Park Geun-hye has publicly apologized and admitted that the government failed to prevent the tragic disaster. This is the most serious maritime accident in South Korea since the sinking of a ferry off the west coast in 1993 that killed nearly 300 people./.

According to VNA