[On-site Video] Sewol Ferry Bereaved Families "President Moon, Withdraw Park Geun-hye's Pardon!" Outraged

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, PD Yoon Jin-geun] "We condemn the Moon Jae-in government for sinking the Sewol Ferry again!"

President Moon Jae-in granted a special pardon to former President Park Geun-hye, who was serving a sentence related to the state affairs manipulation scandal, prompting the families of the Sewol Ferry disaster victims to hold a press conference opposing the pardon.

The 4.16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Families Association (Families Association), 4.16 Solidarity, and the Minbyun Sewol Ferry Disaster Task Force held a press conference on the 27th in front of the Blue House fountain, raising their voices that "granting a pardon to Park Geun-hye while the truth about the Sewol Ferry disaster has not been properly investigated and those responsible have not been punished is an outrageous act."

One bereaved family member attending the press conference expressed frustration, saying, "Is the reward for waiting for the truth about the Sewol Ferry disaster until now a stab in the back with Park Geun-hye’s pardon?" They criticized, "They do not carry out the truth investigation we asked for, but overturn the only consolation we had, Park Geun-hye’s imprisonment, in an instant."

They continued, "Why does one president overturn the imprisonment of Park Geun-hye, which was achieved by tens of millions of citizens who held candles? Do not sink the Sewol Ferry again. Withdraw Park Geun-hye’s pardon!" condemning President Moon.

Kim Jong-gi, an executive committee member of the Families Association, criticized, "President Moon worries about the health of former President Park alone, but does he not care about the mental suffering of the 17 million citizens who held candles in the freezing cold? Do not betray the people who created the candlelight government, and do not kill the bereaved families who lost their children in the Sewol Ferry disaster twice with Park Geun-hye’s pardon."

Han Mi-kyung, co-representative of 4.16 Solidarity, raised her voice, saying, "What we demanded was the eradication of deep-rooted evils, the truth investigation of the Sewol Ferry disaster, and punishment of those responsible. Park Geun-hye’s pardon is a betrayal of the people who fought together to create the government."

Pastor Bang In-sung of Together Opening Church pointed out, "President Moon Jae-in’s recent (former President Park Geun-hye) pardon is a pardon that covers up the most urgent issue of the candlelight revolution, the Sewol Ferry issue." He added, "Does the candlelight president extinguish the cries of the candlelight like this? Does he trample on them like this? How can he pardon former President Park Geun-hye, who was the highest responsible person for the Sewol Ferry disaster? Why trample on them like this?" he appealed.

The bereaved families and related organizations repeatedly urged a clear truth investigation and punishment regarding the Sewol Ferry disaster. The organizations stated, "At the time of the Sewol Ferry disaster, the responsibility for why the citizens were not rescued was not revealed, nor was there any punishment. Granting a special pardon to someone who does not reflect on what they have done is a regression of democracy and destruction of the spirit of the times."

After the press conference, they delivered a protest letter to the Blue House.

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