Three Candidates for Party Leader Mourn 'Sewol Ferry'... "We Will Not Forget and Will Remember"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 16th, marking the 7th anniversary of the Sewol Ferry disaster, candidates for the Democratic Party of Korea leadership paid tribute to the victims of the Sewol Ferry tragedy.

Candidate Hong Young-pyo visited the Sewol Ferry Victims Memorial Hall at Incheon Family Park around 6:30 a.m. that day. Hong said, "As a politician, I feel ashamed that the full truth has not yet been uncovered," adding, "Since the Social Disaster Special Investigation Committee (Sasamwi) still has one year left for its investigation, we will provide all support to ensure the committee can reveal the complete truth." Through Facebook, he emphasized once again, saying, "I will face this without avoidance," and "I will do everything possible for the full truth-finding by Sasamwi and the punishment of those responsible."

Candidate Woo Won-sik also mentioned the Sewol Ferry on Facebook. On that day, Woo wrote, "Even after seven years, the Sewol Ferry and the souls of the flowers that never bloomed still pain our hearts. Yesterday, I visited Mokpo New Port with my wife to honor and deeply remember them."

Woo said, "A country where life and safety come first, a just world where people come first?I will not give up," and added, "I will remember it that way."

Candidate Song Young-gil, who visited the Sewol Ferry remembrance space at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul the day before to mourn the victims, wrote on Facebook that "Although years pile up, the sorrow still does not fade," and "Our society’s awakening to the children’s fleeting deaths and those deaths themselves was insufficient."

He emphasized, "The longer the time for healing sorrow, the more painfully the memory remains," and said, "We must shorten the time of sorrow and focus on memory, responsibility, and promises." He added, "The Democratic Party is a responsible party and the ruling party," and stated, "The party must take a more active role."

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