Photo via AP
Thousands of people hit the streets of Seoul Saturday night to protest the Korean government’s response to last month’s deadly ferry disaster and to demand South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s resignation.In video footage posted on social media, protesters can be seen carrying placards that say “stay where you are” or “do not move,” which is a reference to the instructions that were given to passengers after the ship encountered trouble. Many have blamed those directions for being partially responsible for the large number of deaths. The Sewol ferry was carrying more than 450 people when it capsized on April 16 on its way to island of Jindo.
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Protesters hit the streets in Seoul on May 3, 2014.Escaping a sinking ferry in South Korea. Watch the VICE News video here.A ferry carrying around 470 passengers, mostly students from a high school in Ansan, capsized off South Korea's southwest coast early on Wednesday, April 16.The death toll from the disaster has reached 244 and 58 people are still missing, according to reports.Today, President Park Geun-hye met with families of the missing ferry passengers and told them that her heart breaks for them."I understand that you are in great despair. It has been about 20 days since the accident. I feel immensely responsible," Park told the families, The Korean Herald reported.Earlier, Park apologized for the government's response to the disaster. Since the accident, all of the surviving ferry’s crewmembers have been arrested and accused of negligence.The Republic of Korea Coast Guard on April 28 released footage of the captain of the Sewol ferry leaving the ship as it sank off the southwest coast.On April 27, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won resigned over the disaster.Politicians will pay for the Korean ferry disaster. Read more here.South Korea's culture is not to blame for the ferry disaster. Read more here.