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President Lee vows utmost efforts not to repeat tragedies like 2014 Sewol ferry disaster

Published: 16 Apr. 2026, 15:08

Then-Democratic Party presidential hopeful Lee Jae Myung, right, attends a memorial event for the sinking of the Sewol ferry in Gyeonggi on April 16, 2025. [NEWS1]

President Lee Jae Myung pledged on Thursday to make the utmost efforts not to repeat a disaster such as the Sewol ferry sinking in 2014, mourning the maritime tragedy.

A total of 304 people, mostly teenagers on a high school trip, died when the Sewol ferry sank on April 16, 2014, as the overloaded ship capsized in waters off the southwestern coast.

“I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that the lives and safety of the people are never again threatened due to money or the absence of the state,” Lee said during a meeting with senior aides.

He underscored the need for comprehensive efforts to prevent such tragedies, calling for continued support for victims and stronger safeguards to prioritize public safety.

“We must remember the pain of the tragedy and warmly embrace the wounds of the victims while eradicating the misguided perception that places cost above safety and profit above human life,” he said.

Yonhap