A group of ruling party lawmakers Wednesday were barred from a memorial service for the victims of last year’s ferry disaster amid bereaved families’ protests.
Rep. Yoo Seong-min, accompanied by several other ruling party lawmakers, arrived on the southwest island of Jindo earlier in the day for the mourning service originally set for 1:00 p.m.
But they were sent home before the memorial service began as some bereaved families of the ferry victims bitterly protested their participation.
The mainstream group of victims’ families has been critical of the government and the ruling party’s handling of the aftermath of the ferry accident, including a compensation package offered to the families before the submerged ship has been recovered from the sea.
The 6,825-ton ferry Sewol sank off Jindo Island on April 16, 2014, claiming the lives of more than 300 people.
“As the government earlier decided to salvage the ship following the president’s announcement to do so, the Saenuri Party will also muster efforts to recover the vessel as soon as possible,” Yoo told reporters before leaving the accident site.
Succumbing to overloading and strong currents, the illegally refurbished ferry sank off the southwest coast, leaving 304 passengers dead or missing.
Most of the victims were high school students on a field trip to the southern resort island of Jeju. (Yonhap)
