'Failure to Rescue Sewol Ferry' Park Administration Coast Guard Command Also Acquitted in Second Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard Kim Seokgyun and others, who were prosecuted for causing passenger deaths by failing to take proper initial measures during the Sewol ferry disaster, were acquitted again in the appellate trial.

Former Commissioner Kim Seok-gyun of the Korea Coast Guard is attending the detention warrant hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on January 8, 2020. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the 7th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 2 (Presiding Judges Lee Wonbeom, Han Gisu, Nam Woohyun) acquitted former Commissioner Kim, former Deputy Commissioner Choi Sanghwan, former West Sea Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Suhyun, and former Coast Guard Security and Safety Bureau Director Lee Chunjae, who were charged with professional negligence resulting in death, just as in the first trial.

The appellate court stated, "According to testimonies and records from related parties, the information received at the West Sea Coast Guard Situation Room from the Jindo Maritime Traffic Control Center (VTS) was limited, such as the Sewol ferry tilting about 50 degrees and inquiries about emergency evacuation from passengers on the Sewol," and "it is difficult to definitively conclude that the defendants could have easily foreseen that 'the Sewol ferry was about to sink imminently, requiring immediate evacuation, yet passengers were waiting inside the vessel unprepared' at that time."

However, former Mokpo Coast Guard Chief Kim Munhong and former Commander of the 3009 ship Lee Jaedoo were found guilty of fabricating false documents during the incident reporting process and were sentenced to suspended prison terms, as in the first trial.

Former Commissioner Kim and others were prosecuted for failing to fulfill their duty of care necessary for rescue during the Sewol ferry disaster on April 16, 2014, which resulted in 303 deaths and 142 injuries. The Special Investigation Unit for the Sewol Ferry Disaster of the prosecution judged that former Commissioner Kim and others violated their obligation to understand the situation at the Sewol site, command and control, and to immediately guide evacuation and enter the hull to rescue lives.