By Chung Min-uck
Presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook came under fire Sunday over remarks he made that civilian divers "receive 5 million won ($ 4,880)" for every dead body recovered from the sunken Sewol ferry.
The state-run Yonhap News Agency quoted Min as telling reporters on Saturday, "Civilian divers are paid 1 million won per day and 5 million won for retrieving each dead body."
According to the news agency, Min made the remark when he was having lunch with reporters in Jindo, South Jeolla Province, where the ferry sank 20 kilometers off the coast on April 16.
Civilian and military divers are currently searching for 16 people who remain missing.
As of Sunday, the death toll stands at 288.
Initially, a total of 476 people were found aboard the 6,825-ton vessel.
Undine Marine Industries, a private salvage company spearheading the ongoing rescue efforts under the government's approval, reportedly denied being paid because the spokesman said, saving human life "cannot be measured by money."
Other civilian divers also said they are participating in the rescue operations voluntarily and are not considering any financial compensation, according to reports.
An emergency committee consisting of bereaved family members of the Sewol disaster refused to comment on the issue, reasoning that the truth is hard to establish because there is no official recording of what the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Min's controversial remarks went viral online, fueling concern in the ruling Saenuri Party that the matter may negatively affect their candidates in the upcoming June 4 local elections.
Critics said that Min's remarks will prompt a strong backlash from the people and negatively affect the ruling camp candidates in the run-up to the local polls.
Saenuri Party candidates recently saw their popularity drop following government's slow and incompetent handling of the sinking of Sewol.
"If the spokesman's words are true, parliamentary investigation must be conducted on Choeng Wa Dae as well," said a Twitter user named koreamokmo, Sunday.
"Why isn't Cheong Wa Dae sacking the spokesman?" said another user named athmtg1. "A spokesman must choose one's words more carefully than that."
 |
Min Kyung-wook |
The state-run Yonhap News Agency quoted Min as telling reporters on Saturday, "Civilian divers are paid 1 million won per day and 5 million won for retrieving each dead body."
According to the news agency, Min made the remark when he was having lunch with reporters in Jindo, South Jeolla Province, where the ferry sank 20 kilometers off the coast on April 16.
Civilian and military divers are currently searching for 16 people who remain missing.
As of Sunday, the death toll stands at 288.
Initially, a total of 476 people were found aboard the 6,825-ton vessel.
Undine Marine Industries, a private salvage company spearheading the ongoing rescue efforts under the government's approval, reportedly denied being paid because the spokesman said, saving human life "cannot be measured by money."
Other civilian divers also said they are participating in the rescue operations voluntarily and are not considering any financial compensation, according to reports.
An emergency committee consisting of bereaved family members of the Sewol disaster refused to comment on the issue, reasoning that the truth is hard to establish because there is no official recording of what the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Min's controversial remarks went viral online, fueling concern in the ruling Saenuri Party that the matter may negatively affect their candidates in the upcoming June 4 local elections.
Critics said that Min's remarks will prompt a strong backlash from the people and negatively affect the ruling camp candidates in the run-up to the local polls.
Saenuri Party candidates recently saw their popularity drop following government's slow and incompetent handling of the sinking of Sewol.
"If the spokesman's words are true, parliamentary investigation must be conducted on Choeng Wa Dae as well," said a Twitter user named koreamokmo, Sunday.
"Why isn't Cheong Wa Dae sacking the spokesman?" said another user named athmtg1. "A spokesman must choose one's words more carefully than that."
![[INTERVIEW] 'Money Heist: Korea' writer feels satisfied to expand series' franchise](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/e264f8d5589442489d72f9494ca3f1c7.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
