Editorial: South Korea's Park Vows to Disband Coast Guard

Park Geun-hye (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Ankit Panda

South Korea’s President said that she would disband the nation’s Coast Guard for its response to the Sewol tragedy.

On Monday, South Korean President Park Geun-hye stated that she would disband the Republic of Korea Coast Guard in response to the Coast Guard’s perceived failure in effectively handling the April 16 sinking of the Sewol ferry. Sewol’s sinking resulted in the death and disappearance of over 300 people, mostly high school students. Park vowed to disband the Coast Guard, stating that South Korea needed  “reform and a great transformation” after the Sewol tragedy.

Park made the declaration in a teary-eyed nationally televised speech. She bowed, offering the nation a “heartfelt apology” and accepted responsibility for the disaster: “The ultimate responsibility lies with me, the president,” she said. In the month since the crisis, Park had been quick to assume responsibility and had apologized several times; Monday’s televised announcement was her most public apology yet. “We failed to save those students who should have been saved,” Park added. “I will make this an opportunity for South Korea to be born again.” 

Read the full story at The Diplomat