[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sunhee] The Blue House stated on the 1st regarding the national petition requesting a "full reinvestigation of the Sewol ferry disaster," "The public's suspicions are significant, and the President has repeatedly expressed his determination to uncover the truth and punish those responsible," adding, "We will do our best to ensure that thorough investigations and inquiries proceed according to law and principles."
Lee Kiheon, Secretary for Citizen Participation, said in response to the national petition on the same day, "The Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters and the Special Investigation Unit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office are currently conducting strict investigations and inquiries into the suspicions raised regarding the Sewol ferry disaster."
A total of 216,118 people agreed to this petition, which requested the "establishment of a presidential special investigation unit" and "instructions for investigative cooperation from related ministries and guarantees for investigations by the National Intelligence Service, etc." concerning the Sewol ferry disaster.
Secretary Lee conveyed the progress so far, stating, "Regarding the investigation to uncover the truth, the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters (Sosajeokchamsa Teukbyeol Josawiwonhoe, Special Investigation Commission) extended the investigation period by one year and, based on the investigation contents so far, requested the prosecution to investigate six matters, including the Sewol ferry's closed-circuit television (CCTV) digital video storage device investigation and allegations of civilian surveillance involving former Defense Security Command and Blue House officials."
He also added, "Investigations are underway into the matters requested by the Special Investigation Commission and cases filed by the 4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Families' Association, and on February 18, based on the investigation results, 11 members of the Coast Guard command at the time of the disaster, including the former Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, were indicted without detention on charges of professional negligence causing death and injury."
However, Secretary Lee expressed a negative stance, saying, "Establishing an investigation unit directly under the President requires careful consideration in terms of the neutrality and objectivity of the investigation." As grounds for this, he cited provisions such as Article 44-2 of the Prosecutors' Office Act, which prohibits prosecutors from being dispatched to or concurrently serving in the Presidential Secretariat.
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