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Introduction:
This week South Koreans will solemnly mark the first anniversary of the saddest, most tragic national event in decades, the sinking of the Sewol Ferry on April 16, 2014 off the south coast of Korea. At this time, 304 people drowned, 250 of them high school students from Danwon High School in Ansan, who were on a class trip. The tragedy shook Korean society to the core; this tragic loss of innocent people at the hands of corporate negligence on the part of the shipping industry with additional major responsibility resting with the Korean government for its lack of standards of safety and accountability and/or their enforcement.
Over 3 months most of the bodies were recovered, although one last body was not found until Oct., 6 months later, leaving the final official death toll at 295, while a year later 9 people are still missing.
On Nov. 11, 2014, the captain of the ferry was sentenced to 36 years in jail, and on April 1, 2015 the Korean government announced compensation plans for the families of those drowned. The families reject the compensation, though, and continue to call for a full, unbiased investigation into the tragedy, starting with the raising of the Sewol from the ocean. The slogan of ‘Truth Shall not Sink with the Sewol’, and hence a sound investigation is seen as the only way to achieve a safe society that values life.
The National Council of Churches in Korea and its member churches have fully supported the bereaved families and the demands for government accountability in this matter, and especially as the anniversary approaches during the season of Lent, has prepared a number of events and resources to call for prayer.
Background Information of the Sewol Tragedy
On the day of sailing, the improperly secured cargo weighed 3,608 tons of cargo, more than three times the limit of 987 tons, and estimated at worth around 200 billion Korean won. The ship carried only 580 tons of ballast water, much less than the recommended 2,030 tons; this would make the vessel more prone to list and capsize. The crew had reportedly pumped out hundreds of tons of ballast water from the bottom of the ship in order to accommodate the additional cargo. Between 8:48 and 8:49 a.m. on the 16th an "unreasonably sudden turn" was made, causing the cargo to shift and the ferry to capsize.
As Sewol began sinking, the ferry's intercom system started ordering the passengers to stay put, alleging that moving was dangerous, and the majority of passengers obeyed these orders. These announcements began broadcasting on 8:52 a.m. and continued even when water began flooding passenger compartments. The first emergency call from the ship was made by Choi Duk-ha, a Danwon high school student. On 8:52 a.m., he called the national emergency service number and reported that Sewol was capsizing Three minutes later, the Mokpo Coast Guard station ordered patrol vessel No. 123 to be dispatched to the scene; the vessel was launched on 8:58 a.m. Choi did not survive the capsizing; his body was later recovered.
Patrol vessel No.123 arrived at the scene near 9:30 a.m. and found the Sewol tilted about 50 to 60 degrees. When the rescue vessel arrived, an announcement was made calling people to abandon ship and jump into the waters and rescue operations began at 9:38 a.m. Passengers who had reached the deck or jumped into the water were rescued, including the captain, the chief engineer, and the chief and second mates, (rescued around 9:46 a.m.), but it was said rescue members could not get inside the ship due to the tilt (although there was no attempt made by trained rescue workers, even to break the windows to get out the people inside the cabins). The last message from a passenger on the ship was sent at 10:17 a.m.
EVENTS FOR HOLY WEEK FOR MEMORIALIZING THE VICTIMS OF SEWOL
SEWOL SYMPOSIUM
PRAYER RESOURCES FOR HOLY/PASSION WEEK
PASSION WEEK PILGRIMAGE TO PAENGMOK HARBOUR
WORSHIP OF EASTER DAY
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