Lessons of maritime tragedies
By Lee Sun-ho
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To average contemporary Koreans, the two tragic sea-sailing-vessel accidents that have dominated our news and consciousness in this country will never be forgotten. The two maritime tragedies have been very controversial, spurring further debate over responsibility and how it should be tied to entities in Korea.
One was the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan on March 26, 2010. The ship was a Pohang-class corvette of the ROK Navy, and was carrying 104 personnel off the country’s west coast around Baegnyeong Island, 46 of whom were killed.
The other was the capsizing of the MV Sewol ferry on April 16, 2014. The ferry, built and operated in Japan almost 18 years ago without any incident until 2012 when it was retired and sold to Cheonghaejin Marine Co., Ltd., enjoyed a monopoly on the lucrative Incheon-Jeju route. It carried 476 passengers comprised of 325 students and 14 teachers of Danwon High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Tragically the ship sank to the bottom of the sea near Jindo off Korea’s southwestern coast, and 304 passengers (including nine still missing) were trapped inside and drowned.
The cause of the 1,200-ton navy warship (PCC 772) sinking remained in dispute with North Korea which is backed up by China and Russia, although overwhelming evidence pointed to a he powerful non-contact underwater explosion of a North Korean torpedo fired by a midget submarine, as proven by a co-investigation team. This was even explained to the United Nations Security Council by Dr. Yoon Duk-yong, co-chairman of the team and a scientist and engineer.
In contrast, the heart of the reason why the 16,700-ton Sewol capsized was it was severely overloaded due to corrupt safety inspectors and surveyors. She left dock in Incheon on April 15, 2014, and sank near Maenggol Strait the following morning.
It is regrettable that the two tragedies have been abused for the election-related political split of Koreans’ ideology into two: one for the Taeguk (Korean national) flag-waving pro-government conservatives, the other for the candlelit yellow ribbon, anti-government progressives at their passionate outdoor mass rallies, calling for former President Park Geun-hye to be impeached, ousted and jailed.
On March 24 this year, the Second West Sea Protection Day ceremony was held at Gwangwhamun Plaza in Seoul with the participation of 5,000 people, covering bereaved family members of a number of the Yellow Sea battle dead, military personnel, civilians and government authorities concerned. It is quite abnormal to note that no opposition party leaders joined the sorrowful event, while two government parties, namely the Liberty Korea Party and the Bareun Party (a breakaway group from the former Saenuri Party) were present. It was absurd to see that the so-called pro-government-rooted Bareun Party Assemblymen beginning to attach yellow ribbons once the Sewol was lifted out of the water on March 23, 1,073 days after the incident.
It is shameful that the political parties tried their best to trace the whereabouts of ousted President Park for seven hours. She was in the control tower of the nation, as per protocol for any horrible national disasters. There, she could direct administrative efforts and send out orders efficiently. A similar sea incident under the Kim Young-sam administration could be made tracing the sinking of the 110-ton MV Seohae on Oct. 10, 1993 where 292 passengers among 362 people on board were drowned while sailing from Wido to Gyeokpo, Buan County, North Jeolla Province in the Yellow Sea.
Additionally, it is most deplorable to politicize these tragedies. The already rocket-high government budget from taxpayers has been disbursed to Sewol salvage operations for three years, and compared to the amount of public money spent on the Cheonan case it is still unfinished. It is extremely unfair and must be rectified.
After all, the two unforgettable maritime tragedies in Korea with the sacrifice of 46 navy sailors and 304 civilians should be treated alike and cherished as a way for unity and solidarity for the nation without any biases or prejudices for political gain.
The writer is an ombudsman columnist for The Korea Times in Seoul. Reach him at kexim2@unitel.co.kr.