Park pledges full support for rescue work

President visits site to console family members

President Park Geun-hye visited the site of the sunken ferry Sewol, Thursday, to console grieving families of the missing and encourage rescue workers.

She met the family members in a gymnasium in Jindo, near the scene of the tragedy, to hear their tearful complaints and explain about rescue operations.

Park had been awake all night due to concerns about the accident before coming to the southwestern county, according to her aides.

Her surprise visit came a day after Prime Minister Chung Hong-won was humiliated when an angry relative of a victim threw a bottle of water at him.

“I am very concerned that rescue efforts are slow even after we mobilized so many people and so much equipment,” Park said aboard a Navy ship near the Sewol whose lower bow remains above water.

“The weather is cold at sea and colder still underwater. If there are survivors, we cannot waste a second.”

In the gym, Park tried to console wailing families of almost 300 people still unaccounted for.

“I have been to the site of the accident. The government is doing the utmost through mobilizing all resources and personnel available,” Park said in a brief question-and-answer session.

“What should not take place has happened. After a thorough investigation, those who are responsible will be sternly penalized.”

She also urged officials to give detailed explanations on the rescue work so that families have updated information.

Park accepted a request to have officials install a big-sized screen to show the rescue operation on a real-time basis.

When she entered the gymnasium, some showed support, while others criticized her. Some were sobbing.

After the President promised to punish anybody who fails to keep her word to the families, they applauded.

Park also pledged to call representatives of the families after confirming that her promises had been kept.

While leaving the gym, Park, looking on sadly, touched a five-year-old child on her cheek. The child is the only survivor of her family ― her parents and brother are still missing. The child is known to be too disturbed to eat anything.

Presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said that Park had remained awake all night and decided to make the visit early Thursday morning.

Chief of staff Kim Ki-choon accompanied the President along with senior political secretary Park Joon-woo and senior press secretary Lee Jung-hyun. By Kim Tae-gyu The korea times