South Korea ferry 'sank due to negligence, corruption'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

An interim South Korea government report says the 16 April sinking of the Sewol ferry was partly due to government negligence and corruption.

It cited lax regulation, poor safety inspections and a slow and badly-coordinated coast guard response as factors that led to the disaster.

Eleven officials have been referred to prosecutors on corruption charges and dozens more face possible legal action.
...
Two separate trials, one for the ferry's captain and crew, and another for the head of the ferry operator and other company officials, began last month.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-28205785

[merrily]

1. Ouch. The memory of those kids calling home to tell their families they

loved them.

[davidpdx]

2. I have to watch my tongue on this one, with the libel laws here

But the fact that it was corruption and negligence is a big DUH!

With the fact that conservative government wants less and less regulation, it's no wonder this happened. When you let an industry self-regulate THEY WILL SCREW PEOPLE!

In 2007, Koreans elected Lee Myung Bak and he started this whole scam. People didn't learn their lesson, so they elected Park Geun-hye the daughter of a dictator who will people during the 60's and 70's in 2012. The definition of insane is DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECTING THE SAME RESULT!

[marshall]

3. People love dynasties

And Korea is closer in time to a hereditary ruler ship than we are.

[sofa king]

4. Hi David!

A friend of mine is taking a course on the Koreas right now and we talk about it a lot at work, and we've all been a little bit perplexed at the magnitude of the public reaction and the tenacity with which the press and the public has kept this issue in the public eye.

Is it the corruption that's keeping the story at the center of South Korea's interest? If it is, then it looks to me like South Koreans are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready to make changes.

That's about the time that the democratically elected leader declares a state of emergency and runs the nation as a military coup until he or she decides to step down, right?

[davidpdx]

6. I'm pretty skeptical things will change

Although Park is the first woman president in Korea, I think it had more to do with her being a stanch conservative politician who has been "in the business" quite a long time.

Ask your friend how her dad died. I have absolutely no problem with saying the bastard got what he deserved.

The liberal side is split into two or three factions and they all seem to have their heads up their asses. It frustrates me even as an American living here. If they don't get it together for the next presidential election (in 2018) I'm going to scream. I get to vote in local elections as a permanent resident, but not for National Assembly and president.

The Sewol ferry disaster is just the tip of the iceberg though (bad pun not intended). There was the killing recently by a solider who was up at the DMZ. The military is mandatory for men forcing those who may not be fit to have a gun in their hand serve. Numerous subway accidents, the roof on a building collapsed in Kangwon-do last winter killing several people (including students).

What is that old saying, ignorance is bliss? Sometimes I wish for it just on a count of my blood pressure!

[valerief]

5. Sounds like it sank from "Freedumb! Libraty! USA! USA! USA!" nt

[davidpdx]

7. Relatives weep and jeer at S. Korea ferry disaster trial

When the judge ordered a 10-minute break, another family member screamed at the defendants: "You sons of bitches! I'll kill you!"

And as the court adjourned for lunch, one of the fathers stood and began to harangue the judge.

"The evidence is clear. They are human scum!" the father shouted.

"We should just drown them all," he said, pointing to the defendants. "Why do we need more evidence?"

Even as the judge admonished him for the outburst, other relatives joined in and one woman had to be restrained as she tried to hurl her shoes at the dock.

http://news.yahoo.com/relatives-weep-jeer-korea-ferry-disaster-trial-060352246.html