Bereaved families of Sewol ferry tragedy criticize KBS for giving up its role of media

"The banning of broadcasting the documentary is an abdication of the media's role in holding the country responsible for disasters and an abdication of its role in representing the voices of victims."

At 11 a.m. on February 22, about 10 bereaved families of the Sewol ferry tragedy wearing yellow jumpers gathered in front of public broadcaster KBS' main building in Yeouido, Seoul, where snow was falling lightly to protest against the broadcaster’s decision not to air the documentary titled, “I’ll Leave as the Wind,” which was scheduled to be aired to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the disaster. Kim Soon-gil, the mother of the late Jin Yoon-hee who is one of the victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy, held up a sign that read, "Don't use the Sewol ferry tragedy as a means of political conflicts.”

The bereaved families and civic groups held a press conference on the same day and urged the documentary to be aired as scheduled. The documentary was to be aired on April 18, but the head of KBS’ production department ordered the broadcast to be postponed to June, saying, “It could affect the general election."

Park Seung-ryul, co-head of 4.16 Solidarity, said, "How can the documentary that tells the lives of survivors affect the general election? Is it political to share the pain together?" and pointed out, "It is KBS President Park Min who uses the Sewol ferry disaster for political purposes.”

The bereaved families asked KBS to allow them to meet with Park, but the president refused, saying his schedule should be adjusted in advance.

The bereaved families again asked the public broadcasting company to reschedule the meeting and informed them before the 27th when the next TV programming committee meeting will be held.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.