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Tearful S Korean president says ferry responsibility 'lies with me'

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29 Comments
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Not her fault. But, she IS milking the publicity for her own future.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Lame...using the tragedy to keep her in the office. it just reflect how the Korean society thinks. First they blame the president then the president apologize as if she has anything to do with the tragedy. Bullies. Fix the problem not the facade ...

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Japan offered its help, But stupid politicians refused it. Japan has most advance equipments that could hold the ship floating for many more hours by that time they could save the children with rapid action rescue force. But the politicians want Koreans hate Japan for their political benefits. This was in their mind, let 300 of our children die but still we will not accept the help of Japan.

8 ( +15 / -7 )

I don´t understand all these theatrics. The disaster happened because proper procedures were not in place or were ignored. Tears and dramatic TV appearances don´t show that. She should propose and enforce a reform of operation and safety standards for transportation etc. in Korea, instead of creating a political soap opera. All this makes South Korea really look like a third world country.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

The Students and other the survivors told the Korean coast guards that there are many students still trap in the ship and the coast guards refuse to go inside the ship and rescue them shame on the Korean coast guards !

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Ferry accident happened 21 years ago and many passengers died at that time. It seems that they do not learn something about safety measures from the past and are still living in the past.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

She trounced ll over the world demanding over and over again Japan's apology. And her Karma is what she asked for. Only - i don't think, her "I am sorry-s " will ease the anguishing pain of grieving families, whose lives will never be the same again.

4 ( +13 / -9 )

I think she is full of it... It could never be something that can be pinned on her. So why is she blaming herself? It is senseless... or maybe she needs the attention. Hang the captain for being a coward.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I understand the sentiment, but not the logic. Dismantle the coast guard? Better have something to replace it with first. But what could the coast guard have done with the ship sunk without any evacuation? I think Park is over reacting.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Dismantling the coast guard seems like a massive bureaucratic mess waiting to cost the tax payers in Korea millions of tax dollars, just repainting ships would cost tons of money.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Sorry but what a bull. The accident however tragic it was, was NOT her fault. And to dismantle the coastguard? That helps who exactly?

People should point fingers at the staff of the Ferry and the people/company who/that REDESIGNED the ferry in the first place.

Not to mention what caused the accident in the first place because I haven't heard anything about that yet either.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Tearful S Korean president says ferry responsibility 'lies with me'

Key word is "lies".

Japan offered its help, But stupid politicians refused it.

Stupid is one way to say it. Too full of pride is another.

Its important to say that if the situation was reversed, it would be the same. Politicians pretty much always refuse help until they realize they really do need it, and by then its too late.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Park needs to resign and the government needs to hold another presidential election in June.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Man, President Park is milking this tragedy for all its worth for PR purposes. First to lead the lynch-mob and demand retribution against the company and crew (before any investigation was even conducted), then scapegoat and abolish the coast guard (rather than examining and rectifying any problems they had - such as manpower or equipment shortages), and now blubs about being responsible when there will be zero repercussions for doing so personally or politically. Then again, apart from being the first President Parks daughter, performing this type of political theatrics is all she seems to have going for her as a politician.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

I only hope that various documents does not go to the incinerator. What she is doing is basically washing her hands.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This doesn't make sense. The President didn't overload the ferry after a retrofit reduced its loading capacity. The associations responsible are not under government oversight so it would be literally impossible for this to be true.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

“The ultimate responsibility for the poor response to this accident lies with me,” Park said in a televised address to the nation, during which she openly wept and twice bowed deeply in a display of contrition.

She is fighting for her political life. She has offered the angry parents the h-eads of her PM, the owner of the Ferry co., the Capt. of the ferry, his First and Second mates, the crew of the ferry, dozens of other employees of the ferry co and even employees from the KSA. But, the parents still want answers and yes, those parents deserve their questions answer.

The President is in dire straights and I don't think even the NIS can save her from this whirlwind.

If she truly felt that it was her fault for the poor response her government gave to this tragedy. Then she would have offered up her h-ead to the block. But, she hasn't instead she has offered up the h-eads of many others in an effort to save her job. And she will do whatever she has to to keep her job. But, can she really survive this tragedy and the fiasco?

Time will only tell.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Still, her taking responsibility and highlighting problems between the regulators and business is admirable. Unlike the Turkish PM, in recent mining disaster, kept on insisting accidents like this just happens and it's noone's fault. Comparing the two, it's not hard to see who is better leader and who has sense of responsibility and who has not.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

:rickyvee :

even if that story is accurate, it would have been impossible for the Japanese ships to arrive their to do any good. ....

It;s accurate - and the J sea-emergency professionals would have arrived in good time to make a phenomenal difference. . Ever hear of air travel? .. .and even by sea . . ..Not only according the J report but other international commentators - many of whom proposed lifting the ship with cranes and stabilizing it to open up air pockets which would have saved lives. . . . ..........Strange thing is no one there in Korea had any idea what to do ....

:.tmarie

Is she milking the pub for this? Yes. Of course she is.

There is an election coming in 2 weeks - and with hr support rate plunging, those crocodile tears were not for nothing.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"“I have decided to dismantle the coast guard,” she said, adding that its roles would be split between the police and a newly created ministry of national safety."

I have to question how smart that is. I can't think of any developed country that has not found that a single Coast Guard with it's maritime expertise is the best solution for all maritime matters.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Dismantling the coast guard seems like a massive bureaucratic mess waiting to cost the tax payers in Korea millions of tax dollars, just repainting ships would cost tons of money.

Bingo!!! Park is a real opportunist, she

Prove that she's a responsible politician. Seriously? Reforming the coast guard need money. Now she can find a perfect excuse to clear traces of embezzlement

Bravo, Pres. Park. More joyful tear please

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"The repsonsibility lies with me."

Good. Then we'll accept your confession and put you on trial before the nation. It's only right that the investigation should start right at the very top and work it's way downward.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

semperfi: "AND, YES where is the accountability for FUKUSHIMA????????????????????????????????????????????"

A better question would be, "what's your point?" So far you have said the kids deserved to die because SK didn't like the fake apology offered (after visiting Yasukuni) and so it was karma, and now it's somehow about Fukushima? Try to lay off the pipe.

SamuraiBlue: "I only hope that various documents does not go to the incinerator. What she is doing is basically washing her hands."

As one who has washed his or her hands often would know.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Not enough scapegoats for as many victims.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@realmind

even if that story is accurate, it would have been impossible for the japanese ships to arrive their to do any good.

and i don't see park "milling" this tragedy at all. if anything, she wants people to move on and not focus on it, because the more they focus on it, the more perilous her party looks in the next election.

like any tragedy, it's doubtful that any real meaningful change will occur. just take a look at what happened after 3.11 in japan.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

"Tearful S Korean president...shows that she is a woman, what a sincere President S.Korea has !

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Semperfi: "She trounced ll over the world demanding over and over again Japan's apology. And her Karma is what she asked for."

So you're saying all these children died because a SK leader did not accept a fake apology from Japan?? That is twisted, to say the least, and incredibly insensitive!

To me, it seems like Kim wants out of the job. I have no doubt she feels guilty, but it's not her fault, it's the company's.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

“The ultimate responsibility for the poor response to this accident lies with me,”

Is she milking the pub for this? Yes. Of course she is. However, people have been arrested and are in jail for this. Arrest warrents are out, charges are being brought up and things are being done to prevent something like this from happening again. People are being forced to take responsibilty for this. Japan could learn a lot from this. Ahem. Fukushima...

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

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