Sewol Ferry Special Prosecutor Investigates Sarangwi Officials to Confirm Case Progress and Details

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Hyun-joo, the special prosecutor for the Sewol Ferry disaster investigation (Sewol Special Prosecutor), summoned officials from the Social Disaster Special Investigation Committee (SDSIC) for questioning.

According to the legal community on the 14th, the special prosecutor summoned two SDSIC officials the previous afternoon to inquire about and verify the progress of the case so far.

The SDSIC was established in 2018 to properly investigate the causes of the Sewol Ferry disaster and other social disasters, the response process, subsequent measures, and to determine the facts and accountability.

In 2019, the SDSIC raised suspicions that evidence related to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the Sewol Ferry disaster had been manipulated or edited, and requested the National Assembly to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate these allegations, leading to the formation of the current special prosecutor's office.

Based on materials handed over from the prosecution, the special prosecutor plans to clarify whether the evidence related to the Sewol Ferry disaster was tampered with and will continue to cooperate closely with the SDSIC, which has been investigating this issue.

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor held an inauguration ceremony the previous day and officially began a 60-day investigation. The questioning of the SDSIC officials is the first step. Going forward, the special prosecutor will investigate suspicions of manipulation of restored Sewol CCTV data, the process of collecting the DVR (CCTV storage device) ? considered the black box of the Sewol Ferry ? and the appropriateness of the government response at the time, including the Blue House, regarding the DVR-related issues.

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