Daegum, "Sewol Ferry Reinvestigation" Bereaved Families' Re-Appeal Dismissed

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has dismissed the appeal filed by the Sewol ferry disaster victims' families and others who could not accept the investigation results of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for the Sewol ferry disaster.

On the 21st, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "After reviewing over 40,000 pages of non-prosecution records related to the Sewol ferry disaster by issue, we dismissed the re-appeal filed by the appellants." The office explained that there was no additional evidence to recognize the criminal charges against the appellants or to overturn the original decision, adding, "No unfairness in the original decision was found."

Earlier, the SIU concluded its activities on January 19 and referred 20 individuals, including the Coast Guard command and government officials, to trial. However, 13 cases, including allegations that the former Defense Security Command and the National Intelligence Service surveilled the Sewol victims' families, allegations that the Blue House and Ministry of Justice exerted external pressure on the prosecution's investigation of the Sewol case, and allegations of neglect in the rescue of the late Lim Kyungbin, were dismissed without charges.

In response, the 4·16 Sewol Families' Association, 4·16 Solidarity, and the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) submitted an appeal to the prosecution in February, calling the dismissals "unfair decisions that granted impunity to those responsible through passive investigation and improper legal interpretation." Subsequently, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office dismissed the appeal, stating no new evidence was found to overturn the SIU's dismissal, and the Sewol organizations and Minbyun submitted a re-appeal to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.