First Agency Report in the Parliamentary Investigation of the Ferry Accident: Kang Byung-kyu Says, "I Don't Know" While Kim Kwan-jin Makes Excuses

During the first agency report at the parliamentary investigation of the ferry accident on June 30, Minister of Defense Kim Kwan-jin and Minister of Security and Public Administration Kang Byung-kyu, who are scheduled to be replaced, were practically pounded with criticism, because they consistently put the responsibility for the accident on the Coast Guard and were insincere in their responses. Ruling and opposition lawmakers reprimanded, "The government's poor initial response aggravated the situation." The meeting failed to progress smoothly in the evening when the ruling and opposition lawmakers disagreed on the location of the agency report by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries scheduled for July 1.

When lawmaker Woo Won-shik of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy asked what "surface-supplied diving" was, Minister Kang, head of the Central Disaster Relief Center, which played the role of the control tower immediately after the accident, answered, "I don't know." This method of diving, which makes longer underwater rescue operations possible compared to general scuba diving, allows divers to receive a supply of air through a hose attached to an air supply device on the barge.

After the accident, this method of diving was mentioned several times in the government's briefings as well as in the media.

On June 30, the first day of the agency reports for the parliamentary investigation of the ferry accident, Minister of Defense Kim Kwan-jin (left) and Minister of Security and Public Administration Kang Byung-kyu display discomfort at the criticism from ruling and opposition lawmakers concerning the government's poor initial response. Jeong Ji-yun

Kang's answer triggered criticism, "Shouldn't you at least have a rough understanding of this method? I'm very sorry to hear you say that. (Saenuri lawmaker Shim Jae-chul)" "Are you neglecting to answer because you have submitted your resignation? (New Politics Alliance for Democracy lawmaker Kim Hyun)" Justice Party lawmaker Jeong Jin-hoo said, "In an urgent situation, the minister attended a graduation ceremony and we missed the golden opportunity. Hundreds of lives were at risk, but there was no speedy grasp of the situation and no response. Doesn't this require criminal punishment [for the Minister of Security and Public Administration]?"

Minister Kang repeated the answer, "I don't have any in-depth knowledge on how to carry out a rescue operation," causing Saenuri lawmaker Kim Myung-yeon to say, "I will not ask the minister any questions," out of frustration.

Minister Kim Kwan-jin was consistent in his excuses. When New Politics Alliance for Democracy lawmaker Kim Hyun-mee pointed out, "On the day the ferry sank, there were no rescue personnel or equipment on the Navy's Lynx helicopter at the site, so they were not able to rescue a single person," Minister Kim replied, "The Coast Guard's helicopter was working on the site, and the Navy's helicopter was on stand-by."

Minister Kim, who is also the head of Cheong Wa Dae's Office of National Security left to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new defense minister this afternoon leaving the vice minister to answer the questions, but the quality of the answers fell even further. When Saenuri lawmaker Kyung Dae-soo asked, "Why couldn't the Air Force's air rescue team, which trains in underwater search and rescue operations, take part in the rescue operations?" Vice Minister Baek Seung-joo gave an unrelated answer saying, "The task of the Lynx helicopter is anti-submarine patrol (submarine reconnaissance), and its underwater rescue function is limited." The victims' families, who were observing the meeting, protested, "How can a minister leave [in the middle of a parliamentary investigation]?"

The meeting which began in the morning lasted for about ten hours, but at 8 p.m. it was suspended when lawmakers could not agree on the location for the agency report by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The ruling party argued to hear the report at the National Assembly. But the opposition party argued that they should reflect the request of the bereaved families and hear the report in Jindo.