It has been almost a year since the Sewol Ferry incident and, unfortunately, there are still questions left unanswered for the grieving families. The government is currently contemplating whether to raise the sunken vessel for further investigation. On April 10, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it would cost $110 million USD if the notion was approved.
Back in April 16, 2014 more than 300 people passed away while aboard the sinking Sewol Ferry. Most of the victims were high school students. Families of the victims have called on the government to further investigate this incident. Although back in November 2014, the government passed a Sewol Special Act, creating two investigative teams to probe into the Sewol Ferry, families have accused government of manipulating the project by appointing officials to important roles. Furthermore, government was forced to call off the search for bodies back in November due to weather conditions. 295 bodies were recovered while nine are still missing.
Families are now demanding that the Sewol Ferry be raised so that both the investigation and the search for the nine remaining bodies can continue. This past weekend, hundreds of parents marched 35 km (approx. 22 miles) from the city of Ansan to Seoul to gain the government's attention.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, however, the task of raising the Sewol Ferry will be an expensive one. Apparently the government has already spent 185 billion won (approx. $169 million USD) to fund rescue efforts as well as to provide financial support for grieving families. Currently the government has an additional budget of 140 billion won ($128 million USD) to provide even further financial support and compensation. Should the government decide to raise the Sewol Ferry, they would either be sacrificing $110 million USD from their budget or they will be spending even more than they originally planned on the Sewol Ferry incident.
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Back in April 16, 2014 more than 300 people passed away while aboard the sinking Sewol Ferry. Most of the victims were high school students. Families of the victims have called on the government to further investigate this incident. Although back in November 2014, the government passed a Sewol Special Act, creating two investigative teams to probe into the Sewol Ferry, families have accused government of manipulating the project by appointing officials to important roles. Furthermore, government was forced to call off the search for bodies back in November due to weather conditions. 295 bodies were recovered while nine are still missing.
Families are now demanding that the Sewol Ferry be raised so that both the investigation and the search for the nine remaining bodies can continue. This past weekend, hundreds of parents marched 35 km (approx. 22 miles) from the city of Ansan to Seoul to gain the government's attention.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, however, the task of raising the Sewol Ferry will be an expensive one. Apparently the government has already spent 185 billion won (approx. $169 million USD) to fund rescue efforts as well as to provide financial support for grieving families. Currently the government has an additional budget of 140 billion won ($128 million USD) to provide even further financial support and compensation. Should the government decide to raise the Sewol Ferry, they would either be sacrificing $110 million USD from their budget or they will be spending even more than they originally planned on the Sewol Ferry incident.
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