South Korea's Park formally apologises for ferry disaster
- 10 years ago
Fighting back the tears in televised address to the nation....South Korean President Park Geun-hye remembered the victims of last month's ferry disaster in her most formal apology yet.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE SAYING:
"I apologise to the nation for the pain and suffering that everyone felt, as the president who should have been responsible for the safety and lives of the people."
The president said the coast guard had been a failure and that she would break it up, transferring rescue duties to a national emergency safety agency.
Helicopters and boats came to the rescue of the overloaded ferry, which capsized after making a sharp turn. They only managed to save around one third of the 476 passengers on board.
Most of them were children on a school trip.
Some of the crew, including the captain, caught here on videotape, abandoned ship while the children were repeatedly told to stay put in their cabins.
Parents s
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE SAYING:
"I apologise to the nation for the pain and suffering that everyone felt, as the president who should have been responsible for the safety and lives of the people."
The president said the coast guard had been a failure and that she would break it up, transferring rescue duties to a national emergency safety agency.
Helicopters and boats came to the rescue of the overloaded ferry, which capsized after making a sharp turn. They only managed to save around one third of the 476 passengers on board.
Most of them were children on a school trip.
Some of the crew, including the captain, caught here on videotape, abandoned ship while the children were repeatedly told to stay put in their cabins.
Parents s