Indonesian sailors aboard Geumyang receive aid

y Kim Se-jeong

The Community Chest of Korea (CCK) has given 125 million won to the families of two Indonesian fishermen who died during the search for 46 seamen from the South Korean Navy frigate Cheonan, which was sunk on March 26.

According to the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, Yuliana Harefa, the older sister of Yusuf Harefa who went missing, and Entae Kusyanti, the wife of Lanbang Nurcahyo, who was found drowned, visited Korea at the invitation of the CCK and received the compensation on July 28 in Seoul.

The two men were on board the Geumgyang 98, a fishing boat that sank during the search and rescue mission. Seven Korean fishermen died with them.

The money was delivered by Lee Jong-koo, president of the National Federation of Fisheries, who said, “I deplored the death of the two Indonesian sailors, who were killed while working abroad. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families and would like this (money) to be of great help to them.”

Harefa was quoted as saying by a local newspaper, “I thank the Korean government and the fishery federation for the support. It wasn’t anybody’s fault that my brother died.”

The CCK raised a total of 38.6 billion won through public donations for the victims.

Nearly 25.5 billion won was given to the families of the seven Korean victims.

The remaining 13.1 billion won will be used to create a charity foundation that will help families of the victims and carry out benevolent activities.