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Surviving student of Sewol disaster died after suffering extreme pain
A former Danwon High School student, who had survided the 'Sewol' disaster, has recently passed away. According to the wishes of the deceased, the bereaved family, in consultation with the city of Ansan, arranged for the individual to be interred on June 21, 2026, at the Ansan Sky Park, where many Danwon High School students who died in the disaster have been laid to rest. On June 21, Yukyung Geun, a former executive member of the Sewol Ferry Disaster Family Association, shared a post, titled "Why do I have to live for my friends too?: "A student who, in the aftermath of the Sewol Ferry Disaster, suffered extreme pain and tried multiple times to follow their friends, has ultimately joined their friends at Ansan Sky Park. Many people shared in the sorrow. Many people grieved together. A few days ago was also the anniversary of diver Kim Kwan-hong. I hope we do not forget that not only the victims who lost their lives and their families, but also the surviving students and civilian divers, are all victims. Saying, 'You have to live diligently for your friends who went ahead,' is something that should never be said. The surviving students returned after witnessing their friends die firsthand. Simply because they survived, they have faced cold stares and guilt, making it difficult to even get through daily life, let alone pursue their dreams. Telling the surviving students that they must live for their friends who passed away is not just secondary victimization, but a terrible act of violence that is almost akin to murder. I know such words come from a place of sorrow and the hope that they will live well, but I hope people refrain from saying them so lightly."I would be glad if they could just live normally, just like everyone else. I know it is a truly difficult, perhaps even impossible, thing to ask."
Man who claimed to by Sewol survivor arrested for possessing a weapon off government building
The Yongsan Police arrested a man in his 60s who claimed to be a survivor of the 'Sewol' shipwreck on Sep 1, 2025, for possessing a weapon in front of a government building after requesting a meeting with the presidential office. The Yongsan Police Precinct announced on Sep 2 that it had arrested and questioned the man on charges of possession of a weapon in a public space. The police apprehended him in front of the main gate of the Ministry of National Defense in the Yongsan District, central Seoul. The man confronted police who attempted to subdue him for approximately 20 minutes, and demanded that he be able to meet with the presidential office to ask for improved treatment for 'Sewol' survivors. A taser gun was also used during the arrest. The man received first aid for the injuries and met with presidential office personnel at the Civil Affairs Office.
Malfunctioning steering system, poor stability caused Sewol ferry disaster, new government probe found
The sinking of the 'Sewol' was caused by internal structural failures, including a malfunctioning steering system and poor stability, according to recently revealed findings from government investigations ahead of the 11th anniversary of the tragedy. The Mokpo branch of the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal said on April 14, 2025, that a special panel issued its conclusion on the tragedy in November last year — 10 years and 7 months after the ferry sank on April 16, 2014. While court rulings apply to general legal cases, maritime accidents in Korea are subject to the tribunal’s decisions. The tribunal’s judgment document functions similarly to a court verdict. The panel fully ruled out the theory that external factors, such as a collision, caused the ferry to sink, according to the tribunal’s findings: “Based on findings following the vessel's salvage and inspection, we did not confirm any evidence of external forces that could have caused an abrupt turn, such as hull damage. As there was no credible evidence of external impact, we did not consider that theory in our determination.” Instead, the panel found that the abrupt turn made by the ferry was not due to human error by the helmsman but rather a mechanical failure in the ship's steering system. The panel also took the arguments from a 2018 investigation that claimed the solenoid valve in Pump No. 2 of the steering gear was stuck and led the steering system to malfunction. At the time of the accident, the ship’s stability was already severely compromised. This was due to extensive structural modifications made to increase the passenger capacity, which raised the ship’s center of gravity. Although vessels with weakened stability must carry less cargo, the 'Sewol' was found to have been carrying nearly twice the amount allowed in its stability calculations — 2,021 tons, instead of the permitted 1,077 tons. To make matters worse, the cargo had not been properly secured. The unfastened cargo made the ferry severely tilt while making a turn. Water then flooded through the openings in the outer hull, resulting in the loss of stability, according to the panel’s conclusion. Out of the 476 people on board, 304 were killed or went missing in the disaster. The tribunal attributed the scale of the human toll to the crew's failure to take active rescue measures.
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