Court to Deliver First Trial Verdict Today on Former Coast Guard Chief Kim Seok-gyun and Others for Sewol Ferry Rescue Failure

Former Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun of the Korea Coast Guard (center). / Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The first trial verdict for former and current Coast Guard officials, including former Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun, who were indicted for causing the deaths of passengers due to inadequate initial response during the Sewol ferry disaster, will be announced on the 15th.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 22 (Presiding Judge Yang Cheol-han) will hold a sentencing hearing from 2 p.m. on the same day for 11 former and current Coast Guard executives, including former Commissioner Kim, former West Sea Maritime Police Commissioner Kim Soo-hyun, former Mokpo Maritime Police Chief Kim Moon-hong, and former Deputy Commissioner Choi Sang-hwan, who were indicted without detention on charges including professional negligence resulting in death.

They were brought to trial in February last year on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury for failing to fulfill their duty of care necessary for rescue during the Sewol ferry disaster on April 16, 2014, which caused 303 deaths and 142 injuries.

The Special Investigation Unit under the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, which investigated the case, judged that former Commissioner Kim and others violated their professional duty of care by failing to grasp the situation at the Sewol site and to command and control immediate evacuation guidance and hull entry to rescue lives.

Earlier, at the sentencing hearing held on the 11th of last month, the prosecution requested the maximum sentence of five years imprisonment for former Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun.

The statutory penalty for professional negligence resulting in death is ‘imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won.’

At his final statement, former Commissioner Kim said, “As someone responsible for safety at sea, I once again offer my deep apologies and condolences to the bereaved families and the public for failing to prevent this tragic accident.”

He also appealed for leniency, saying, “However, looking back at this moment, there are many regrets and shortcomings. I want to emphasize that Coast Guard personnel made every effort to rescue even one more person in the urgent situation.”

The prosecution requested four years imprisonment for former West Sea Maritime Police Commissioner Kim Soo-hyun, four years and six months imprisonment for former Mokpo Maritime Police Chief Kim Moon-hong, and three years and six months imprisonment for former Deputy Commissioner Choi Sang-hwan, all on the same charges.

Additionally, the prosecution requested imprisonment of three to four years for former Maritime Police Safety and Security Bureau Director Lee Chun-jae, Jeju Regional Maritime Police Commissioner Yeo In-tae, and former West Sea Maritime Police Situation Officer Yoo Yeon-sik, and one to three years imprisonment or imprisonment with labor for the remaining Coast Guard officials.

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