Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party of Korea Remembers April 16 Sewol Ferry Disaster 6th Anniversary in April

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Democratic Party of Korea (Representative Kim Yong-seok, Dobong 1) announced on the 13th that they sincerely extend their condolences to the victims and bereaved families of the Sewol Ferry disaster, marking the 6th anniversary on the 16th.

Shin Jeong-ho, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, stated in a commentary on the same day, "The 16th marks the sixth spring since we lost our children in the Sewol Ferry tragedy. Even as time passes, our people have never forgotten the pain of that day for a moment."

He added that the people, having matured further after the Sewol Ferry disaster, brought about a new government and embraced advanced democracy, and only then did a truly people-centered nation begin to exist. He said that South Korea’s recognition as a world leader in medical and quarantine response amid the unprecedented global COVID-19 crisis is deeply rooted in the pain engraved by the Sewol Ferry disaster.

However, the long struggle for uncovering the truth of the Sewol Ferry disaster and punishing those responsible continues even after six years. Fueled by the public’s strong desire to reveal the truth, the prosecution’s ‘Special Investigation Team for the Sewol Ferry Disaster’ was launched, but the Coast Guard leadership was indicted without detention. The ‘4.16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Victim Relief and Support Special Act Amendment,’ known as the ‘Late Kim Gwan-hong Law,’ is still pending in the National Assembly. Moreover, incomprehensible incidents have occurred, such as individuals who have repeatedly made outrageous remarks about the disaster being nominated as candidates for the National Assembly with party endorsement, which is deeply regrettable.

The Democratic Party of Korea in the Seoul Metropolitan Council led a street march in the rain in July 2014, when the Sewol Ferry disaster occurred, to achieve the enactment of the ‘Special Act on the Sewol Ferry Disaster.’

They also proposed the nation’s first Sewol Ferry disaster memorial ordinance, the ‘4.16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Victims Memorial Ordinance,’ securing budgets for policies necessary for the Seoul Mayor’s memorial activities and for conducting memorial projects, continuously striving to ensure the meaning left by the Sewol Ferry is not forgotten.

It is said that a nation’s response capability is its national power, and the civic consciousness of its people is its national dignity. The Democratic Party of Korea in the Seoul Metropolitan Council declared that to fulfill its responsible role as the ruling party toward the people, it will continue to pursue the truth-finding and memorial support for the Sewol Ferry disaster until the end, and furthermore, will do its utmost to build a hopeful Republic of Korea where the people can trust and feel secure in their nation.

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