Parties reach agreement on Sewol bills

By Kim Hyo-jin

The rival parties reached agreement Tuesday on a set of measures to compensate the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster that claimed 304 lives. The agreement came 265 days after the Sewol sank place on April 16 last year.

Chief policymakers of the ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) agreed to deal with the bill at a National Assembly plenary session on Jan. 12.

The bill features the establishment of a committee under the Prime Minister’s Office to deliberate the amount of compensation for the victims.

The parties decided to first use 125 billion won donated by citizens and enterprises, and provide additional amounts from state coffers, if necessary.

The bill extends favors to the fishermen in Jindo, who suffered losses due to participation in search operations.

Universities will be allowed to offer special admission to the second-year student survivors from Danwon High School. The majority of victims were from the school. An “Ansan Trauma Center” will be set up to manage their mental health.

The two parties decided to establish the “April 16 Commemoration Foundation” and support the foundation with national funds for five years from its establishment.