Ahn calls premier cowardly

By Jun Ji-hye

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), criticized Prime Minister Chung Hong-won for resigning over the ham-handed handling of the Sewol ferry tragedy.

“At a time when the nation has fallen into chaos, Chung and the Cabinet should have devoted all their energies to resolving the situation first,” the software mogul-turned-lawmaker told a press conference on Sunday.

He described Chung’s action as “cowardly and irresponsible,” saying that President Park Geun-hye should apologize to the nation.

The government has been under fire for a series of gaffes committed during the search and rescue operations of what is certain to be the nation’s biggest maritime accident.

As of Sunday afternoon, 188 were confirmed dead with 114 still missing. Only 174 were saved during the initial hours following the accident that took place off Jindo on the southwestern coast on the morning of April 16. Most of the dead and missing are high school students from Ansan.

Chung was mobbed by relatives of the missing and dead in Jindo. He was hit by a mineral water bottle thrown from the angry crowds.

Rep. Ahn said that the public were witnesses to the fact that the fundamental problems of the maritime disaster were the irresponsible attitudes and incompetence of the civil servants.

He added: “Does he want the National Assembly to hold confirmation hearings to endorse a new prime minister during this turmoil?”

Ahn demanded that the National Assembly remain in session for as long as it takes to finish a thorough investigation of the causes of the ferry sinking and put into place measures to prevent a recurrence of such a disaster.

Park Kwang-on, the NPAD spokesman, said Chung’s actions were intended to distract public anger away from the government’s incompetence.

“The government seems to be giving priority to calming the public’s anger, rather than resolving this tragic disaster,” he said in a statement.

The ruling Saenuri Party said Chung’s announcement is regrettable, but relevant government officials will have to step up efforts to control the confusion.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye