The state audit agency called Friday for punishment of the head of the Coast Guard and 49 other incumbent and former officials from maritime rescue bodies, holding them responsible for botching rescue operations during April’s deadly ferry sinking.
Sending shock waves through the nation, the 6,825-ton ferry Sewol sank in waters off the southwestern island of Jindo on April 16, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing.
The combination of cargo overloading, an illegal remodeling of the ship to increase its cargo capacity and the steersman’s poor helmsmanship were found to have caused the sinking, with the botched initial response by the Coast Guard and the nearby monitoring center driving the high death toll.
Announcing its investigation into the sinking, the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea said it ordered the maritime ministry, which controls the ocean police, to take “proper” punitive action against Coast Guard chief Kim Suk-kyoon.
The audit agency also ordered punishment on Nam Sang-ho, the head of the National Emergency Management Agency, as well as dismissals of the chiefs at key rescue agencies, including the vessel traffic service on Jindo Island, located near the accident site and the nearby Mokpo branch of the maritime police.
Through the audit agency’s latest action, 50 rescue-related officials were ordered to resign or face punishment for the botched rescue operations, the agency said. (Yonhap)
