[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum apologized to the families of the Sewol ferry disaster victims, saying, "On behalf of the government, I bow my head and sincerely apologize."
At the 8th anniversary memorial service for the Sewol ferry disaster held on the 16th at Ansan Hwarang Amusement Park, Prime Minister Kim stated in his eulogy, "The government of the Republic of Korea failed to protect the lives of our people," and added, "We failed to protect your families."
He continued, "What the Sewol ferry disaster clearly taught our community is that there can be no compromise when it comes to safety," emphasizing, "If anyone had raised their voice of conscience prioritizing safety during the numerous processes leading up to the disaster, we might have been able to prevent this tragedy."
He also mentioned, "Even now, there are voices in our society suggesting that safety should be compromised for the sake of inconvenience and cost reduction," and stated, "That must not happen."
Regarding the '4·16 Life Safety Park,' scheduled to be established in 2024, the 10th anniversary of the disaster, he expressed, "I deeply thank the citizens of Ansan for their civic spirit, empathizing with the pain of their fellow citizens and offering boundless generosity."
Prime Minister Kim said, "If we can even slightly understand the grief of the bereaved families who can never return to their previous daily lives, we all must remember this day and share that pain as fellow citizens who are not ashamed," and conveyed, "Protecting the lives of the people is the responsibility of the state."
He then promised, "From now on, it is essential for any government to prevent social disasters and strengthen the nation's disaster management capabilities," and pledged, "The government will make every effort to ensure that no part of victim support is neglected until the very end."
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