The Sewol Ferry Disaster

The 2014 Sewol ferry disaster remains a defining tragedy in South Korean history, resulting in the deaths of 304 people, primarily high school students on a field trip. The catastrophe stemmed from systemic negligence, including the illegal overloading of the vessel, the removal of essential ballast, and a delayed, incompetent emergency response. Despite clear distress signals, the captain and crew failed to issue evacuation orders, choosing instead to abandon the ship while passengers remained trapped. The subsequent government response exacerbated the trauma, as officials attempted to deflect blame by surveilling grieving families and managing public perception through misinformation. This tragedy eventually catalyzed significant social activism, leading to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and the dissolution of the national Coast Guard, while forcing a long-overdue reckoning regarding public safety regulations and government accountability in South Korea.