Sewol Ferry Special Task Force Requests Arrest Warrants for Former Coast Guard Chief Kim Seok-gyun and 5 Others

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The prosecution has requested arrest warrants for Kim Seok-gyun, then Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, and six other senior and operational officials of the Coast Guard, holding them responsible for failing in rescue operations during the Sewol ferry disaster.

The Special Investigation Team for the Sewol Ferry Disaster (Head: Im Gwan-hyeok, Ansan District Chief Prosecutor) announced on the 6th that it had requested arrest warrants for six Coast Guard officials at the time, including former Commissioner Kim, former West Sea Regional Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Su-hyun, and former Mokpo Coast Guard Station Chief Kim Moon-hong, on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

This marks an attempt to secure custody of the Coast Guard leadership for the first time in five years and nine months since the Sewol ferry disaster occurred in April 2014.

Kim and others are accused of failing to fulfill their duty of care necessary for rescue, including directing passenger evacuation during the Sewol ferry disaster, resulting in the deaths of 303 people and injuries to 142 others.

Previously, the special investigation team had been conducting investigations into whether Kim and others were guilty of professional negligence causing death.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.