Restored phones reveal new clues to Sewol sinking

By You Soo-sun

Data from two mobile phones discovered inside the salvaged ferry Sewol has been successfully restored, according to a report released Friday. A total of 135 recovered devices may further provide clues regarding the ferry’s sinking near the southwestern island of Jindo on April 16, 2014.

According to the report, released by the Sewol Ferry Investigation Committee, the recovered devices may provide further accounts of the sinking that claimed the lives of 304 people, mostly students from Danwon High School. They may also help in establishing a better understanding of the timeline of events.

Some of the restored text messages have been disclosed, revealing the vice principal of Danwon High School may have resisted the ferry’s departure.

One message read, “Vice principal wants to cancel.”

“[I] don’t think we can go because of the fog,” another read.

These messages elicit suspicions that the decision to depart had been a risky one.

Forensic experts reportedly restored 255 phone contacts, 4,142 phone calls, 2,952 texts, 31,895 Kakao messages, 142,162 photos, 409 voice messages and eight videos on one phone, which stopped functioning at 10:01 am.

Messages received on the phone after 9:29 a.m. were in an unread state, including “You need to contact me” and “Did you get on the helicopter?”

The last message, received at 10:01 a.m., read, “Did you get out? Contact me with another person’s phone if you need to.”

Data restored from the other phone includes 516 contacts, 8,466 phone calls, 5,002 texts, 41,646 Kakao messages, 323,729 photos, 583 videos and 1,422 voice messages. It stopped functioning at 9:47 a.m.

Investigators have not yet disclosed the contents of the restored files or other details from this phone.