Sinking of MV Sewol

File:Ferry Sewol 1.jpg

At the time of its purchase by Chonghaejin Marine on October 8, 2012, the ship that would come to be known as MV Sewol was eighteen years old and dilapidated.{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/06/2014050600343.html |title=Greed Was Biggest Culprit in Ferry Disaster |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |date=6 May 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014}} It was originally named Ferry Naminoue and was operated from 1994 to 2012{{cite news |last1=Kwon |first1=Judy |last2=Lah |first2=Kyung |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/26/world/asia/south-korea-national-psyche/ |title=Ferry disaster's toll on South Korea's national psyche |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=27 April 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014}} as a transport ship for cargo and passengers by the Japanese company A-Line Ferry.{{cite report |url=https://www.shippingdaily.co.kr/newsfile/2014/12/30/SDD00100273.pdf |script-title=ko:여객선 세월호 전복사고 특별조사 보고서 |trans-title=Safety Investigation Report |date=29 December 2014 |publisher=Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal |language=Korean |access-date=2024-09-20 }}{{rp|9}} According to A-Line Ferry, it did not experience any problems during its service in Japan.{{cite news |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/04/17/national/sunken-ferry-once-plied-japans-seas-2 |title=Sunken ferry once plied Japan's seas |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=18 February 2017}} After it was purchased, the vessel underwent modifications between October 12, 2012, and February 12, 2013, and was registered by Chonghaejin on October 22, 2012.{{rp|9}} The modifications were originally claimed to be illegal, but the Korean Register of Shipping stated that the Sewol had "normally passed" all of the blueprint inspections, ship stability tests, and shipboard inclination tests when the cabin was expanded.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-15 |title=Corrections (바로잡습니다) |url=http://www.labortoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=165021 |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Daily Labor News (매일노동뉴스) |language=Korean}}

After these modifications, which included the addition of two decks of passenger space and the expansion of the cargo space,{{cite news |last=Suh |first=Jae-jung |url=http://fpif.org/south-korea-still-stonewalling-sewol |title=South Korea: Still Stonewalling About the Sewol |publisher=Institute for Policy Studies |work=Foreign Policy in Focus |date=22 September 2014 |access-date=18 February 2017}} Sewol had her gross tonnage increased by 239 tons to 6,825 tons and her passenger capacity increased by 116 people for a total of 956 people including the crew.{{rp|11}} The modifications resulted in its center of gravity being moved upward by {{height|m=0.51|precision=0}}{{rp|11}} as well as a left-right imbalance.{{cite news |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/10/06/2014100601350.html |script-title=ko:檢 세월호 수사결과 발표 "세월호는 과적 상태에서 급선회하다 침몰" |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |date=6 October 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Presents MV Sewol investigation results "MV Sewol capsized due to sudden turn while overloaded}} After the modifications were completed, Sewol underwent investigations by the Korean Register of Shipping (KR) including an inclining test, and received the ship inspection certification and the certification for the prevention of sea pollution on 12 February 2013.{{rp|15}} During the process of approving the modifications, the KR reduced the maximum amount of cargo that could be carried by 1,450 tons to 987 tons, and increased the amount of ballast needed by 1,333 tons, to 1,703 tons.{{cite journal |last=Kim |first=Suk-kyoon |date=11 November 2015 |title=The Sewol Ferry Disaster in Korea and Maritime Safety Management |journal=Ocean Development and International Law |volume=46 |issue=4 |pages=345–358 |doi=10.1080/00908320.2015.1089748 |s2cid=154630655 }} The cargo limits were not known by the Korea Shipping Association, which has the responsibility to manage ferries, or the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), which were responsible for overseeing the Shipping Association.{{cite news |last=Choe |first=Sang-hun |title=4 Employed by Operator of Doomed South Korean Ferry Are Arrested |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/asia/employees-of-south-korean-ferry-operator-are-arrested.html |work=The New York Times |date=6 May 2014 |access-date=18 February 2017}} The Board of Audit and Inspection later revealed that the KR's licensing was based on falsified documents.{{cite news |last1=Kwon |first1=K.J. |last2=Yan |first2= Holly |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/09/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-report |title=Report: S. Korean ferry operators prioritized profits over safety |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=9 July 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014}} After the inspections, 37 tons of marble were further added to the gallery room at the bridge deck located on the back of the ship.{{rp|17}}

Sewol began operations on 15 March 2013.{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/07/2014050701710.html |title=Sewol Operator Routinely Overloaded Ferry |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |date=7 May 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014}} She made three round trips per week from Incheon to Jeju, each one-way voyage of {{convert|425|km|mi}} taking 13.5 hours to complete.{{cite news |url=http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3993 |title=Hopes fade of finding Sewol survivors |publisher=The Jeju Weekly |date=21 April 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006081454/http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3993 }} On 19 February 2014, she received an interim inspection and a periodic inspection from the Register.{{rp|17}} It had made the round trip a total of 241 times until the day of the incident.

File:MS Sewol Track.jpg |access-date=24 April 2014}}]]

On 15 April 2014, Sewol was scheduled to leave the port at Incheon at 6:30 p.m. KST.{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/24/2014042401245.html |title=Irregularities, Incompetence Led to Ferry Disaster |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |date=24 April 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}} A fog, which restricted visibility to less than {{convert|1|km|mi}}, led the Incheon vessel traffic service (VTS) to issue a low visibility warning around 5:30 p.m., leading the Shipping Association to hold Sewol{{'}}s departure. The VTS retracted the warning around 8:35 p.m., and the Shipping Association removed the restriction on Sewol{{'}}s departure after checking the weather conditions with the operator of the Palmido lighthouse and consulting with the KCG.{{rp|30}} She departed around 9 p.m., and was the only ship to leave port that evening.

When Sewol departed, she was carrying 476 passengers, 33 crew members, and a total of 2,142.7 tons of cargo, including 185 cars.{{rp|31}} Among the 476 passengers were 325 students and 14 teachers on a field trip from Danwon High School.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32153772 |title=Sewol disaster: South Korea to pay nearly $400,000 per student killed |publisher=BBC |date=1 April 2015 |access-date=2 March 2017}} Five passengers were of non-Korean nationality.{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Oi-hyun |last2=Seo |first2=Young-ji |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/633453.html |title=3 foreign nationals among the missing from sunken ferry |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}} The ship was commanded by 69-year-old Captain Lee Joon-seok,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27774838 |title=South Korea Sewol ferry crew go on trial |publisher=BBC |date=10 June 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}} who had been brought in as a replacement for the regular captain.{{cite news |last=Kwaak |first=Jeyup |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303678404579533053614449522 |title=South Korean Ferry Official Warned of Stability Issues |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=15 September 2014}} Lee had over forty years of experience at sea and had traveled the route before.{{cite news |last=Villapaz |first=Luke |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/who-lee-joon-seok-south-korean-ferry-captain-apologizes-faces-criminal-investigation-sewol-1573187 |title=Who Is Lee Joon-Seok? South Korean Ferry Captain Apologizes And Faces Criminal Investigation For Sewol Sinking [PHOTO] |publisher=IBT Media |work=International Business Times |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}} He was hired on a one-year contract, with a monthly salary of {{SK won|2.7 million}} (roughly US$2,500).{{cite web |url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2014042351908 |title=The captains of the Sewol, the Samho Jewelry, and the Titanic |work=The Dong-A Ilbo |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}} Lee worked with 33 crew members on the journey,{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/29/0200000000AKR20140429196200054.HTML |script-title=ko:<세월호참사> 승무원 탈출 전 선사와 통화…승무원 명단 누락(종합2보) |publisher=Yonhap |date=29 April 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=MV Sewol Disaster – Steward calls higher ranked member before escaping... crew list missing}} of which nineteen were irregular, part-time workers.{{cite news |last=Jeon |first=Jong-hwi |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/labor/648433.html |script-title=ko:'생명·안전 분야' 비정규직 금지 눈길 |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=24 June 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title='Life and safety areas' hints of banning irregulars}}

Later investigations discovered problems concerning the state of Sewol at the time of departure. Despite her maximum allowance for 987 tons of cargo, Sewol was carrying 2,142.7 tons of cargo, which had been improperly secured.{{rp|34}}{{cite magazine |last=Jenkins |first=Nash |url=https://time.com/2968886/south-korea-sewol-ferry-license-cargo/ |title=South Korean Ferry Was Operating Illicitly, State Report Says |date=9 July 2014 |access-date=21 February 2017 |magazine=TIME}} Only 761.2 tons of ballast were taken on board, the ballast tanks had not been properly maintained, and the previous voyage had been made without making further adjustments to the ballast during the journey.{{rp|36–37}} The regular captain of Sewol, Captain Shin, had warned Chonghaejin about the decrease in stability and attributed it to the removal of the side ramp, later claiming that the company threatened to fire him if he continued his objections. Shin's warnings were also relayed through an official working for the Incheon Port Authority on 9 April 2014, which an official from Chonghaejin responded to by stating that he would deal with anyone making the claims.{{cite news |last=Jo |first=Seong-eun |url=http://news.kukinews.com/article/view.asp?page=1&gCode=soc&arcid=0008259238 |script-title=ko:[세월호 침몰 참사-단독] "배 떨림 너무 심하다" 문제 제기… 회사측 해고 협박 |publisher=Kuki News |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=MV Sewol Capsizing Disaster – Exclusive: "Ship vibration is too much" problem raised... company threatens to fire}} Shin had also requested a repair for the malfunctioning steering gear on 1 April 2014, but this was not done.{{cite news |last=Choi |first=He-suk |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140423000536 |title=[Ferry Disaster] More irregularities emerge as Sewol death toll hits 139 |publisher=Herald Corporation |work=The Korea Herald |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}} The KR had noted in a stability test report dated 24 January 2014 that Sewol had become "too heavy and less stable after modifications were made".{{cite news |agency=AP |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10798399/South-Korean-ferry-captain-says-he-warned-of-boats-stability-problems.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10798399/South-Korean-ferry-captain-says-he-warned-of-boats-stability-problems.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=South Korean ferry captain says he warned of boat's stability problems |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=21 February 2017}}{{cbignore}}

Chonghaejin's had spent just {{SK won|2.6 thousand}} (US$2) on safety training for the crew the previous year, which was used to buy a paper certificate.{{cite news |last1=Choe |first1=Sang-hun |last2=Fackler |first2=Martin |last3=Cowan |first3=Alison Leigh |last4=Sayare |first4=Scott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/27/world/asia/in-ferry-deaths-a-south-korean-tycoons-downfall.html |title=In Ferry Deaths, a South Korean Tycoon's Downfall |work=The New York Times |date=26 July 2014 |access-date=4 October 2014}}

File:Sewol passengers on morning of April 16.jpg

On 16 April at 7:30 a.m. (KST), third mate Park Han-kyul and helmsman Cho Joon-ki{{cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/south-korea-ferry-disaster-third-mate-steering-first-time-arrested-captain-sewol-sewol |title=South Korea ferry disaster: third mate 'steering in tricky waters for first time' |work=The Guardian|date=20 April 2014 |access-date=7 March 2017}} took over the watch from the previous team. At this time, Sewol was heading at a course of about 165 degrees at a speed of about {{convert|20|kn}} and was operating two radar devices. Around 8:20 a.m. when the ship was about {{convert|3-5|km|nmi|0}} from entering the Maenggol Channel, Park ordered Cho to change the steering system from autopilot to manual steering. When Sewol arrived at the channel at 8:27 a.m. at a course of around 137 degrees, the wind speed was between {{convert|4-7|m/s|kn km/h|0}}, the wave height about {{convert|0.5|meter}}, and the visibility good.{{rp|38}}

The Maenggol Channel has strong currents, which necessitate extreme caution when steering a ship through it.{{cite news |last=Park |first=Sang-su |url=http://www.newsis.com/ar_detail/view.html/?ar_id=NISX20140515_0012919571 |script-title=ko:[세월호 참사]합수부 공소장으로 본 세월호 침몰 |trans-title=[The Disaster of MV Sewol] The Sinking of the Sewol seen through the petition of appeal of the Coalition Investigation Team |work=Newsis |date=15 May 2014 |access-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021043715/http://www.newsis.com/ar_detail/view.html?ar_id=NISX20141013_0013227920|archive-date=October 21, 2014}} At the time of the incident, conditions were calm and Sewol was following a route that was frequently used.{{cite news |last1=Jang |first1=Jung-min |last2=Park |first2=Ju-min |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idUKBREA3F01Y20140418 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228163154/http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idUKBREA3F01Y20140418 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 February 2017 |title=Vice-principal of South Korea school in ferry disaster commits suicide |publisher=Thomson Reuters |work=Reuters |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=28 February 2017}} While the wider areas of the channel contain rock hazards and shallow waters, they were not in the immediate vicinity of the ship's usual path.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-17/south-korea-ferry-disaster-sewol-what-we-know/5397570 |title=South Korea ferry disaster: What we know about Sewol's sinking |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 April 2014 |access-date=28 February 2017}} While prosecutors{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27087243 |title=South Korea ferry 'steered by inexperienced third mate' |publisher=BBC |date=20 April 2017 |access-date=28 February 2017}} and some news organizations{{cite news |last=Park |first=Madison |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/15/world/asia/sewol-problems/ |title=What went wrong on Sewol? |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=15 May 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/21/2014042101354.html |title=Did Sewol 3rd Mate Lie to Rescue Services? |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |date=21 April 2014 |access-date=28 February 2017}} labeled Park as being inexperienced based on her unfamiliarity with the channel, the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal's investigation report noted that she had on multiple occasions passed through the channel on another ship.{{rp|40}}

As Sewol approached the fatal turn, breakfast was being served in the cafeteria.{{cite news |last=Choi |first=He-suk |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140422001161 |title=[Ferry Disaster] Death toll surpasses 150 as Sewol search speeds up |work=The Korea Herald |publisher=Herald Media |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=5 October 2014}}{{cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/16/south-korea-ferry-sewol-disaster-chaotic-scenes-boat |title=South Korea ferry disaster survivors describe chaotic scenes |publisher=Guardian News and Media |work=The Guardian |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=5 October 2014}} CCTV data taken at 8:40 a.m. showed students present and socializing on the deck.{{cite news |last=Bae |first=Dong-min |url=http://www.newsis.com/ar_detail/view.html?ar_id=NISX20141013_0013227920 |script-title=ko:'평화로운 아침' 세월호 침몰 전 내부 모습 공개 |publisher=Newsis |date=13 October 2014 |access-date=21 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title='Peaceful morning' MV Sewol's inner settings before capsizing revealed |archive-date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021043715/http://www.newsis.com/ar_detail/view.html?ar_id=NISX20141013_0013227920 }} One surviving passenger, Choi Eun-seun, recalled having gone up to the deck to smoke right before the incident.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27120853 |title=S Korea ferry survivor 'haunted' by memory of trapped students |publisher=BBC |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=5 March 2017}}

Right before the incident, Park and Cho were standing side by side near the ship's wheel at the bridge.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uO_p_0dM9w | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405142310/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uO_p_0dM9w| archive-date=2017-04-05 |script-title=ko:기억을 건지다…6개월의 재판 기록 |author= | date=12 April 2015 |publisher=Korean Broadcasting System |trans-title=Rescuing memory... 6 months' worth of court record |access-date=5 March 2017}} Captain Lee was absent from the bridge at the time. At 8:46 a.m., as Sewol was travelling at a speed of {{convert|18|kn}} at a course of around 136 degrees, Park ordered Cho to change the course from 135 degrees to 140 degrees, which Cho consequently undertook.{{rp|39}}

The accounts of what happened next are conflicting. According to Park's testimony, after she had used the radar to check that Sewol{{'s}} course was changed and the new course was set to 140 degrees, she ordered Cho to change the course of the ship further to 145 degrees.{{cite news |last=Yang |first=Seong-mo |url=http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ref=A&ncd=3055206 |script-title=ko:[디·퍼] 9시 26분 어떤 일이?…세월호 재판 6개월의 기록 |publisher=Korean Broadcasting System |trans-title=[Digital First] What happened on 9:26?... Six months' worth of court records in the Sewol Trial |date=13 April 2015 |access-date=7 March 2017}} The order was given at 8:48 a.m. After realizing that the ship was heavily listing to starboard, which led the bow to turn to the right, she gave an order to turn the wheel to port.{{rp|40}} Immediately after giving the order, she heard Cho exclaim, "The wheel isn't working" in a flustered voice, after which the ship started listing.

Cho's testimony did not notably differ from that of Park. He testified that the listing began with the order to turn to 140 degrees. According to Cho, he only received the order to change the course to 140 degrees, and not the order to change the course to 145 degrees.{{cite news |last=Jeong |first=Dae-ha |date=12 September 2014 |title=ko:세월호 조타실 변침 방향은 오른쪽? 왼쪽? |script-title= |language=ko |trans-title=Was the MV Sewol's steering room turning direction to the right? left? |publisher=The Hankyoreh |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/654989.html |access-date=7 March 2017}} As Sewol kept turning towards the right even as he was holding onto the wheel, he made two turns to the left amounting to a five-degree turn. As the ship did not stop its rightward turning, it was eventually facing a 145-degree course. Cho testified that Park gave an order to turn "in the opposite direction" at this point, which he followed by turning the ship further to the left by ten degrees, so the total amount of the turn became fifteen degrees to the left.

The court came to the conclusion that Cho's steering led the ship to attempt a fifteen-degree turn for forty seconds. The court concluded that Cho, who was flustered by the ship turning faster than expected while he was following Park's order to turn to 145 degrees, was attempting to turn to the left when he took Park's order to mean a turn in the opposite direction. This led him to make a turn to the right, causing the front of the ship to rapidly turn right.

Later analysis of Sewol{{'s}} track chart by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries revealed that the ship's Automatic Identification System (AIS) had stopped collecting data from 8:48:37 to 8:49:13; consequently, the Ministry and the Jindo VTS lost thirty-six seconds of data.{{cite news |first=Heo |last=Uk |url=http://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=20140916010007838 |script-title=ko:검경합수본 자문단장 "세월호 운행 불가능한 배"(종합) |publisher=AsiaToday |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Head of the expert advisory board for the police-prosecution joint investigation board "MV Sewol was a ship impossible to sail" (Compiled)}}{{cite news |url=http://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1002584842 |script-title=ko:자문단장 "끊어진 세월호 AIS 36초, 시스템 한계 탓" |publisher=Seoul Broadcasting System |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Head of advisory panel [said] "36 seconds of lost data of the AIS on the Sewol, is due to system limitations}} While earlier reports and investigations believed that there was a power outage,{{cite news |last=Choi |first=He-suk |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140422001161 |title=[Ferry Disaster] Death toll surpasses 150 as Sewol search speeds up |publisher=Herald Media |work=The Korea Herald |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014}}{{cite news |last=Nam |first=Hyun-woo |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/04/116_155876.html |title=More questions arise for cause |newspaper=The Korea Times |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014}} Huh Yong-bum, the head of the expert advisory panel on the police-prosecution joint investigation team, testified that the AIS failure was due to system limitations and that the failure did not affect the steering.

According to the joint investigation team, Sewol{{'s}} sharp turn was a combined result produced by the steering error and the lessened restoring force caused by overloading; however, investigations did not show any malfunctions with the generator or the battery.{{cite news |last=Jo |first=Im-seong |url=http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_201410061658197067 |script-title=ko:세월호 폭침설·국정원 개입설 등 사실무근 |publisher=YTN |date=6 October 2014 |access-date=20 October 2014}} From 8:49:26, AIS data showed the ship's angular velocity accelerated from 0.29 degrees per second (dps) to 0.83, 1.00, and 2.00 until 8:49:39; these readings were consistent with previous testing data gained from earlier tests conducted on an empty Sewol.{{cite news |last1=Jung |first1=Dae-ha |last2=Park |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/area/655550.html |script-title=ko:"세월호 침몰 주요 원인은 과적" 전문가 증언 |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=MV Sewol's main reason for capsizing is overloading" expert testifies}} Consequently, the ship herself listed twenty degrees into the water at 8:49:40, causing cargo to fall to one side of the ship.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/09/16/0200000000AKR20140916138200054.HTML |script-title=ko:<세월호, 4월 16일 08:49 초당 15도 급선회 실상은> |publisher=Yonhap |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=MV Sewol's was turning at 15 degrees per second on 16 April at 8:49}}{{cite news |last=Choi |first=Hye-jin |title=KBS News |url=http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/NewsView.do?SEARCH_NEWS_CODE=2930778 |script-title=ko:"세월호, 대각도로 방향 바꾸다 화물 쏠려 침몰" |publisher=Korean Broadcasting System |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=MV Sewol capsized as the cargo shifted to one side following a large angular turn}} The impact caused the ship's gyroscope to erroneously record angular velocities of 15 dps at 8:49:40, 14 dps the next second, and minus 11 dps the following second. Given that the shifted cargo effectively compounded the destabilizing effect, the ship tilted ten degrees further into the water. Passengers also reported hearing a loud "bang".{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/16/world/asia/south-korea-sinking-ship-students/ |title=South Korean shipwreck survivors: Passengers told 'don't move' as ship sank |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=17 April 2014 |publisher=CNN|last1=Hancocks |first1=Paula |last2=Shoichet |first2=Catherine E. |last3=Pearson |first3=Michael}}

As Cho sharply turned the ship from 135 to 150 degrees, Sewol began to list to port and tilt towards the water. The overall effect was that the ship turned about 45 degrees to the right, then rotated an additional 22 degrees on the spot for a span of twenty seconds.{{cite news |url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=422&aid=0000059148 |script-title=ko:세월호 45도 급선회...사라졌던 3분36초간의 기록 |publisher=Naver Corporation |work=Yonhap |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=MV Sewol Sudden turn of 45 degrees... the records of 3 minutes and 36 seconds that have disappeared}} The cargo falling to one side of the ship caused Sewol to lose all her restoring force and allowed water to flow into the ship through the side door of the cargo loading bay and the car entrance located at the stern. This scenario was confirmed by simulations separately run by the expert advisory panel on the joint investigation team, the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, and the Advanced Marine Engineering Center of Seoul National University. Cho testified that the tilting lasted for about two to three minutes after the initial tilt.{{cite news |last=Park |first=So-hee |url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002038784 |script-title=ko:입 연 세월호 기관장 "죽을죄를 지었습니다" |publisher=OhmyNews |date=1 October 2014 |access-date=4 November 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=The Chief Engineer of MV Sewol who opened his mouth "I committed a crime punishable by death"}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=March 2025}} During this time, Oh Yong-seok, an off-duty helmsman who was sleeping in his cabin, was awoken when he was thrown against its port side.{{cite news |last1=Choe |first1=Sang-hun |last2=Kirk |first2=Semple |last3=Lee |first3=Su-hyun |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/world/asia/chaos-ruled-sinking-ferry.html |title=Errors Mounted as Chaos Ruled Capsizing Ferry |work=The New York Times |date=20 April 2014 |access-date=15 October 2014}} As of 8:50 a.m., Sewol was leaning thirty degrees to port.{{cite news |last=Kang |first=Jin-kyu |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2995313 |title=Simulations show far different fate for the Sewol |publisher=JoongAng Ilbo |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=25 September 2014 |access-date=15 October 2014}}

Captain Lee, who was in his private cabin at the time of the incident,{{cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/south-korea-ferry-disaster-third-mate-steering-first-time-arrested-captain-sewol-sewol |title=South Korea ferry disaster: third mate 'steering in tricky waters for first time' |work=The Guardian|date=20 April 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014}} immediately rushed to the bridge.{{cite news |last1=Jang |first1=Jung-min |last2=Park |first2=Ju-min |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idINKBN0D402G20140418 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229022246/http://in.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idINKBN0D402G20140418 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 December 2015 |title=S.Korea ferry captain rushed back to bridge as ship listed – crewman |work=Reuters |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=20 October 2014}} After a short period, all the ship's mates and helmsmen arrived there as well. Around this time, Cho stopped the engines, although it is unknown whether it was on his own volition or following an order from Lee.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Do-gyun |url=http://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1002357239 |script-title=ko:엔진 꺼진 채 표류하다 침몰...선장이 "꺼라" 지시 |publisher=Seoul Broadcasting System |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=28 October 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=[The ship] drifted with engines off and capsized... Captain ordered 'off'}} At 8:50, Cho ordered an evacuation of the engine room through a call to the assistant engineer.{{cite news |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/633440.html |title=Sewol's captain under fire for fleeing sinking ship |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=28 October 2014}} During this time, Park was crying, as she was startled by the sudden incident; this lasted until at least 9:06 a.m.{{cite news |last=Choi |first=Chi-bong |url=http://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20140516003014 |script-title=ko:20대 女항해사, 배 가라앉는데 한쪽 구석에서... |publisher=Seoul Shinmun |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=4 November 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=As the ship was sinking, the female third mate in her 20s in the corner was...}} With the engines off, Sewol became unable to change directions and began drifting sideways.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27342967 |title=South Korea Sewol ferry: What we know |publisher=BBC |date=15 May 2014 |access-date=2 September 2014}} A passenger later testified that lights went out after the ferry started listing.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Jung-eun |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/28/world/asia/south-korea-sewol-ferry-trial/ |title=Student survivors of Sewol ferry disaster testify at South Korea murder trial |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=3 September 2014}}

{{Quote box

| quote = Do not move. Just stay where you are. It's dangerous if you move, so just stay where you are.

| title = Important Announcement repeated during capsizing

| tstyle = text-align: left;

| quoted = 1

| width = 35%

| align = right

| source = As reported by CNN on 16 April{{cite news |last=Park |first=Madison |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/18/world/asia/south-korea-ship-survivor/ |title=Ferry accident: Woman, 71, survives because stranger wouldn't give up on her |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=21 November 2014}}

}}

As Sewol began sinking, the ferry's intercom system started ordering the passengers to stay put, alleging that moving was dangerous.{{cite news |last1=Hancocks |first1=Paula |last2=Shoichet |first2=Catherine E. |last3=Pearson |first3=Michael |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/16/world/asia/south-korea-sinking-ship-students/ |title=South Korean shipwreck survivors: Passengers told 'don't move' as ship sank |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=21 November 2014}} The announcements were made by a communication officer, Kang Hae-seong, who had not consulted the manual before the broadcast. The announcements began broadcasting by at least 8:52 a.m.{{cite news |last=Bacon |first=John |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/01/south-korea-ferry-student-cellphone-video/8558607/ |title=Heartbreaking video shows students as ferry sinks |publisher=Gannett Company |work=USA Today |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=11 November 2014}} and continued even when water began flooding passenger compartments.{{cite news |url=http://sbsfune.sbs.co.kr/news/news_content.jsp?article_id=E10005525103 |script-title=ko:세월호 카톡 공개 "다들 사랑해. 진짜 사랑하고 마지막 동영상 찍었어" 눈물 |publisher=Seoul Broadcasting System |date=16 July 2014 |access-date=21 November 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=MV Sewol's Katalk reveal "I love everyone. I really love everyone and I took the last video" tears.}} Other crew members corroborated this order, instructing passengers to stay put. Captain Lee also instructed passengers to stay put and did not change the order even as he himself was leaving the ship.

The first emergency call was made by Choi Duk-ha, a Danwon High School student aboard the ferry.{{cite news |last=Stevens |first=Andrew |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/27/world/asia/ferry-south-korea-teen-remembered/ |title=South Koreans mourn teen hero who made first emergency call from ferry |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=27 April 2014 |access-date=3 September 2014}} At 8:52 a.m., he called the national emergency service number and reported to the South Jeolla Province fire station that Sewol had begun to capsize.{{cite news |last=Choi |first=He-suk |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140424001087 |title=[Ferry Disaster] Sewol search turns increasingly grim |work=The Korea Herald|publisher=Herald Corporation |date=25 April 2014 |access-date=29 April 2014}} Choi was connected to the Mokpo Coast Guard at 8:54 a.m. and was asked to give the latitude and longitude of the ship's location.{{cite news |last=Kang |first=Jin-kyu |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2988632 |title=Videos at ferry disaster give glimpses of doom |publisher=JoongAng Ilbo |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014}} Three minutes later, the Mokpo Coast Guard station situation room ordered Patrol Vessel No. 123 to be dispatched to the scene; the vessel was launched at 8:58 a.m.{{cite news |last=Noh |first=Hyun-woong |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/658695.html |title=More stunning evidence of government incompetence in Sewol's "golden moments" |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Kyung-mi |last2=Kim |first2=Young-dong |url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/634369.html |title=Student made first call for rescue from sinking Sewol ferry |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=24 April 2014 |access-date=29 April 2014}} Following the Coast Guard search and rescue manual, the boat was to be in charge of surveying the area and "swiftly" rescuing passengers. Choi did not survive the capsizing and was later found dead.{{cite news |author= |title=Lost at sea |url=https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21601315-maritime-disaster-prompts-soul-searching-lost-sea |newspaper=The Economist |date=26 April 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014 }}

At 8:55 a.m., Sewol{{'}}s crew made their first distress call to the Jeju VTS and asked them to notify the KCG, as the ferry was rolling and in danger.{{cite news |last=Choe |first=Sang-hun |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/world/asia/korean-ferry-students-captured-sinking-on-video.html |title='Mom, This Looks Like the End of Me': Doomed Vessel's Last Minutes |work=The New York Times |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=14 November 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/18/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-transcript/ |title=Transcript of conversation between sinking ferry, traffic control |publisher=CNN|date=19 April 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014}} At 8:56 a.m., the Jeju VTS called the Jeju Coast Guard. Three minutes later, the Jeju Coast Guard called the Mokpo Coast Guard and discovered that a patrol boat had already been dispatched. At 9:01 a.m., a crew member on Sewol called the Incheon branch of Chonghaejin to report the situation, and Chonghaejin's head office located in Jeju then called Captain Lee at 9:03 a.m. for a report of the situation. The Incheon branch then talked with the first mate in five telephone calls over the next thirty-five minutes.{{cite news |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/30/2014043000196.html |script-title=ko:[세월호 참사 / 승객들의 SNS·동영상] 청해진해운·세월호, 침몰中 7차례나 통화… 승객 구호·퇴선 지시 없었으면 사법 처리 |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=24 September 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=[MV Sewol Disaster / Passengers' SNS Video] Chonghaejin Marine MV Sewol, Spoke to Each Other 7 Times During the Capsizing... If there were no orders to make passengers abandon ship, it goes under judicial law}}

At 9:06 a.m., the Jindo VTS were informed of the capsizing incident by the Mokpo Coast Guard. Around this time, Sewol{{'}}s crew began communicating with the Jindo VTS, which was closer to their location. For the next two minutes, Jindo VTS alerted two other ships that Sewol was sinking, with one confirming that it had visual contact with the ship.{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/04/21/transcript-shows-urgent-calls-to-help-sinking-south-korean-ferry/ |title=Transcript Shows Urgent Calls to Help Sinking South Korean Ferry |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=21 April 2014 |access-date=16 November 2014}} At 9:07 a.m., the ferry's crew confirmed that she was capsizing and requested the help of the KCG. At 9:14 a.m., the crew stated that the ship's angle of heel made evacuation impossible. Around this time, the captain of Patrol Vessel No. 123 was appointed the commander of the scene. Four minutes afterwards, the crew of Sewol reported to the VTS that the ferry had heeled more than fifty degrees to port.{{cite news |date=20 April 2014 |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 마지막 교신 "좌현 60도, 이동 쉽지 않다" |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing – Last contact: "The ferry is tilted 60 degrees to the left, moving will not be easy" |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/20/0701000000AKR20140420046100054.HTML |access-date=20 April 2014 |work=Yonhap News Agency |publisher=Yonhap |language=ko}}

• Translation by Wall Street Journal [https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/04/21/transcript-shows-urgent-calls-to-help-sinking-south-korean-ferry/]
• Translation by CNN [https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/18/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-transcript/]

At 9:23 a.m., the VTS ordered the crew to inform the passengers to wear life jackets. When the crew replied that the broadcasting equipment was out of order, the VTS told them to personally order the passengers to wear life jackets and more clothing. At 9:25 a.m., the VTS asked Captain Lee to decide quickly whether to evacuate the ship, stating that they did not have enough information to make the decision. When Lee inquired about the rescue, the VTS replied that patrol boats were due to arrive in ten minutes and a helicopter in one minute. Lee then replied that there were too many passengers for the helicopter. During this time, Lee told passengers to stay in their cabins.{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Gillian |last2=Kim |first2=Hyung-Jin |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/transcript-reveals-confusion-ferry-evacuation-23397374 |title=Confusion Over Ferry Evacuation May Have Added to Death Toll |publisher=ABC News |date=20 April 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014}} The communications officer, using the ship's intercom, repeatedly ordered passengers not to move.{{cite news |last1=Choe |first1=Sang-hun |last2=Lee |first2=Su-hyun |last3=Ham |first3=Ji-ha |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/world/asia/south-korean-ferry-accident.html |title=Human Error Suspected as Hope Fades in Korean Ferry Sinking |work=The New York Times |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014}}

At 9:33 a.m., after confirming that nearby ships had volunteered to help in the rescue operations, the VTS told all ships to drop lifeboats for the passengers. At 9:38 a.m., all communications were cut off between the VTS and Sewol. About three minutes after all communications were cut, about 150 to 160 passengers and crew jumped overboard.

During Sewol{{'}}s capsizing, members of the crew drank beer{{cite news |last=Park |first=Ju-min |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-ferry-crew-idUSKBN0GY08E20140903 |title=Crew of doomed South Korea ferry drank beer while awaiting rescue: media |publisher=Thomson Reuters |work=Reuters |date=2 September 2014 |access-date=15 September 2014}} and communicated by telephone with staff from Chonghaejin at seven different times.{{cite news |date=30 April 2014 |script-title=ko:[세월호 참사 / 승객들의 SNS·동영상] 청해진해운·세월호, 침몰中 7차례나 통화… 승객 구호·퇴선 지시 없었으면 사법 처리 |trans-title=[MV Sewol Disaster / Passengers' SNS Video] Chonghaejin Marine MV Sewol, Spoke to Each Other 7 Times During the Capsizing... If there were no orders to make passengers abandon ship, it goes under judicial law |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/30/2014043000196.html |access-date=24 September 2014 |work=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}}

• Translation [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/30/2014043000856.html] As passengers stayed in their cabins as instructed, Captain Lee and his crew abandoned the ship.{{cite news |last=Park |first=Ju-min |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-ferry-idUSKBN0ES0L320140617 |title=Accused South Korea ferry crew say rescue was coastguard's job |publisher=Thomson Reuters |work=Reuters |date=17 June 2014 |access-date= 15 September 2014}} Lee, Cho, and the first and second mates were the first people to be rescued,{{cite news |last=Ryall |first=Julian |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10832527/South-Korea-ferry-captain-charged-with-manslaughter.html |title=South Korea ferry captain charged with manslaughter |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |date=15 May 2014 |access-date=15 September 2014}} with Captain Lee rescued around 9:46 a.m.{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/02/2014050201345.html |title=Coast Guard Gave Special Treatment to Ferry Captain |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}}{{cite news |last=Kang |first=Jin-kyu |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2988632 |title=Videos at ferry disaster give glimpses of doom |newspaper=JoongAng Ilbo |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}}

As Sewol capsized, some passengers followed the announcements to stay put, even as the water came in.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28519921 |title=South Korea ferry: Students 'floated from cabins' |publisher=BBC |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}} Most of the student passengers obeyed the announcements.{{cite news |last1=Hayashi |first1=Yuka |last2=Nam |first2=In-soo |last3=Martin |first3=Alexander |last4=Pfanner |first4=Eric |last5=Lee |first5=Min-jeong |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304311204579509240098230248 |title=As South Korean Ferry Disaster Unfolded, Anguished Final Goodbyes |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=24 September 2014}} Some passengers, who disobeyed the announcements, climbed to the top of the ship or jumped into the water and were rescued.{{cite news |last1=Hancocks |first1=Paula |last2=Shoichet |first2=Catherine E. |last3=Pearson |first3=Michael |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/16/world/asia/south-korea-sinking-ship-students/ |title=South Korean shipwreck survivors: Passengers told 'don't move' as ship sank |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}}

Videos recording passengers during the capsizing have been recovered.{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Nic |last2=Fantz |first2=Ashley |last3=Shoichet |first3=Catherine |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/27/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-video/ |title=Videos capturing ferry's final moments fuel fresh outrage over ship's fate |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=14 May 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}}{{cite news |last=Choe |first=Sang-hun |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/world/asia/korean-ferry-students-captured-sinking-on-video.html |title='Mom, This Looks Like the End of Me': Doomed Vessel's Last Minutes |work=The New York Times |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}} Some recorded the announcements telling passengers to stay in place and put on life jackets,{{cite news |last=Bacon |first=John |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/01/south-korea-ferry-student-cellphone-video/8558607/ |title=Heartbreaking video shows students as ferry sinks |publisher=Gannett Company |work=USA Today |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}} while some showed passengers joking around, putting on life jackets, and sending farewells.

Passengers made calls, sent text messages,{{cite news |last=Park |first=Seung-mok |url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201404161639551 |script-title=ko:[단독]"엄마, 내가 말 못할까봐…사랑한다" 침몰 배 탑승 학생의 문자메시지 |publisher=Kyunghyang Shinmun |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=[Exclusive]"Mom, just in case I can't say it... I love you" Student's Text Message During the Capsizing Ship}} or sent KakaoTalk mobile messages{{cite news |url=http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/article/4251/teenage-legacies-sns-messages-become-precious-clues-korean-ferry-disaster |title=SNS Messages Become Precious Clues in Korean Ferry Disaster |publisher=Business Korea Co., Ltd. |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004150219/http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/article/4251/teenage-legacies-sns-messages-become-precious-clues-korean-ferry-disaster |archive-date=4 October 2014 }} during the capsizing. The last message was sent at 10:17 a.m. Text messages and social media posts allegedly made by survivors still trapped after the capsizing circulated in the media, but an investigation by the Cyber Terror Response Center found that none of the trapped passengers used their phones between noon on 16 April and 10:00 a.m. of 17 April{{cite news|url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/17/0701000000AKR20140417182351004.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 경찰 "SNS '살아 있다' 메시지 전부 가짜"(종합) |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=18 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Ferry capsizing – Police say the 'SNS "I'm alive" messages are all fake' (Compiled)}} and that all the reported survivors' messages made within that time were falsified.{{cite news |last=Cha |first=Frances |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/18/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-social-media-reax/ |title=South Korea ferry disaster: Fake survivor posts add to nation's anguish |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=17 September 2014}}

Sewol took two and a half hours to sink. By around 11:18 a.m., the stern was submerged, with a section of the hull about {{convert|2|m}} high and {{convert|20|to|30|m}} long showing above the water. At 12:00 noon on 16 April, only {{convert|50|cm}} of the bulbous bow was above water; at 1:03 p.m., the ship was completely submerged.{{cite news |date=18 April 2014 |script-title=ko:세월호는 완전 침몰 임박...해상 크레인 현장 도착 |language=ko |trans-title=Sewol's capsizing imminent... marine crane arrives to the scene |publisher=Seoul Broadcasting System |url=http://w3.sbs.co.kr/news/newsEndPage.do?news_id=N1002351213 |access-date=18 April 2014}}{{cite news |date=18 April 2014 |script-title=ko:세월호 수면 아래로 완전 침몰(속보) |language=ko |trans-title=Sewol completely submerged (Breaking news) |work=Yonhap News Agency |publisher=Yonhap |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/18/0200000000AKR20140418086000054.HTML |access-date=18 April 2014}}

An investigation conducted by Social Disaster Special Investigation Committee clearly confirmed that the Coast Guard Command was responsible for the lives of 304 people. In a position with clear duties and authority according to their laws and operation procedures, the Coast Guard Command should have mobilized all available resources to grasp the situation and identify the emergencies with the Sewol ferry, providing direction to the mobilized forces to evacuate the Sewol ferry passengers. However, they failed to carry out these actions. The Coast Guard Command neither tried to figure out the specific status of the Sewol nor shared the information already secured (through passenger reports, etc.) with dispatchers. Even though they should have been aware of the urgency of the Sewol ferry incident based on the information provided by the mobilized forces and the passenger reports, the Coast Guard Command still did not issue the proper commands to the mobilized forces.{{Cite web |script-title=ko:가습기살균제사건과 4·16세월호참사 특별조사위원회, 세월호참사에서 해경 등 초동대응의 적정성 조사 |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NM5b3pgguqZjeHqtv1LUhMzXbnOitoDK/view?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Google Docs |pages=487, 262, 289, 305}}

During the disaster and the immediate aftermath, the South Korean government's announcements, as well as those from the South Korean media, were inconsistent and inaccurate.{{cite news |last=Cho |first=Chung-un |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140516001217 |title=[Weekender] "Sewol disaster reveals failure of mass media as watchdog" |publisher=Herald Corporation |work=The Korea Herald |date=16 May 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014}} An editorial in The Huffington Post stated that government reports were like a rubber band, "increasing at one moment and decreasing at another."{{cite news |last=Min |first=Yong-jun |date=17 April 2014 |script-title=ko:죽은 언론의 사회 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/yongjun-min/story_b_5163975.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908234219/http://www.huffingtonpost.kr/yongjun-min/story_b_5163975.html |archive-date=8 September 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014 |work=The Huffington Post}}

• Translation by The Huffington Post here [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yongjunmin/how-korean-media-got-the-_b_5169630.html] South Korean outlets such as JoongAng Ilbo, Maeil Broadcasting Network, and JTBC later made corrections and apologies concerning their earlier reports. Conspiracy theories were also present in the aftermath of the sinking.{{cite news |last=Cain |first=Geoffrey |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/after-sewol-ferry-disaster-koreans-lower-trust-government-n173001 |title=After Sewol Ferry Disaster, Koreans Lower Trust in Government |publisher=NBC News |date=20 August 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014}}

At 8:58 a.m. (KST) on 16 April 2014, the Mokpo Coast Guard dispatched Patrol Vessel No. 123 in response to the first report of the incident. After receiving the news of the capsizing from the Jeollanam Provincial Government, the Republic of Korea Navy 3rd Fleet sent a {{sclass|Gumdoksuri|patrol vessel}} (PKG) to the site at 9:03 a.m.; the Navy dispatched another PKG at 9:09 a.m.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416199400043.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 해군 승조원들 '구명조끼' 던져주며 구조 |publisher=Yonhap |date= 16 April 2014 |access-date = 21 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing: Navy sailors rescue by throwing life jackets}} At 9:04 a.m., the government created the Central Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters ({{Korean|hangul=중앙재난안전대책본부|labels=no}}), an organization which would directly report to the government. The KCG set up a rescue operations headquarters at 9:10 a.m.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416078700004.HTML |script-title=ko:452명 탄 여객선 진도 해상서 침몰中...110명 구조 | work = Yonhap News |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=21 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=A ferry with 452 people capsizing near Jindo coast... 110 people rescued}}

Patrol Vessel No. 123 arrived at the scene near 9:30 a.m. as the first ship to reach the site after the incident.{{cite news |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2014/07/29/6/0302000000AEN20140729006200315F.html |title=Senior Coast Guard official arrested over Sewol ferry sinking |publisher=Yonhap |date=29 July 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014}} During the time between the dispatch and the operations, No. 123 failed to raise Sewol and chose to call for other ships on the radio.{{cite news |url=http://news.donga.com/3/all/20140428/63101388/1 |script-title=ko:'첫출동' 해경 경비정, 세월호와 교신 못한 채 사고해역 도착 |publisher=The Dong-A Ilbo |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014 |language=ko |trans-title='First dispatch' Coast Guard Patrol Vessel, Arrived at Accident Scene Without Communicating with MV Sewol |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006075429/http://news.donga.com/3/all/20140428/63101388/1 |archive-date=6 October 2014 }} Consequently, crewmembers on No. 123 had not directly communicated with the stricken vessel and were not aware of the content of the communication between Sewol and the Jindo VTS on arrival.{{cite news |last=Sa |first=Jeong-won |url=http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/NewsView.do?SEARCH_NEWS_CODE=2854049 |script-title=ko:해경 123정 "세월호 승객 향해 '탈출하라' 방송" |publisher=KBS |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014}} At the time of arrival, Sewol had listed about fifty to sixty degrees to port.{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/29/2014042900681.html |title=Footage Reveals Half-Hearted Rescue Efforts in Ferry Disaster |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |date=29 April 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014}} Rescuers made announcements for five minutes, calling people to abandon ship and jump into the water. No. 123 began rescue operations at 9:38 a.m. with the dispatching of a rubber boat. Passengers who had reached the deck or jumped into the water were rescued, including Captain Lee, but rescuers could not get inside the ship due to the list. People trapped inside Sewol{{'}}s pilothouse were rescued by breaking through the windows.

At 9:35 a.m., the Korean Ministry of National Defense started operating Counter-disaster Headquarters ({{Korean|hangul=재난대책본부|labels=no}}). At 9:40 a.m., the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries declared the sinking to be the highest state of emergency in terms of naval accidents; consequently, the Central Accident Response Headquarters ({{Korean|hangul=중앙사고수습본부|labels=no}}) was established.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/16/0200000000AKR20140416174800003.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 해수부, 해양사고 '심각' 경보 발령(종합) | work = Yonhap News |date= 16 April 2014 |access-date = 21 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, declared the naval accidental state 'grave'}} At the same time, the Ministry of Health and Welfare sent emergency vehicles and the first squad of the Disaster Medical Support Team ({{Korean|hangul=재난의료지원팀|labels=no}}) to Jindo.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416215400017.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 복지부, 재난의료지원팀 급파 | work = Yonhap News |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=21 April 2014 |language = ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing: Ministry of Health and Welfare, quickly dispatched the Disaster Medical Support Team}} At 11:28 a.m., the Korea Navy's Ship Salvage Unit (SSU) was reported to have been deployed for the operations.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416094600004.HTML |script-title=ko:여객선 침몰 대비...수중구조 해군SSU 투입(속보) | work = Yonhap News |date=16 April 2014 | access-date =25 April 2014 |language= ko |trans-title=Preparing for the capsizing of the ferry... sea rescue operations navy unit SSU deployed | type = breaking news}}

At 2:42 p.m., 150 special forces personnel from the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command, including forty scuba divers, were sent for the operation. At this point, 196 personnel, including 82 in the SSU and 114 in the Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Flotilla, were involved in the operations.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416131200043.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 육군 특전사 150명·해군 구조대 196명 투입 | work =Yonhap News | date= 16 April 2014 |access-date= 27 April 2014 | language = ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing: 150 Army Special Warfare Command units 196 Navy rescuers sent for operations}} At 3:07, the regional government of the Gyeonggi Province was reported to have started operating the Prevention and Countermeasures Headquarters ({{Korean|hangul=재난안전대책본부|labels=no}}).{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416140100060.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 경기도 재난안전대책본부 가동 | work =Yonhap News |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014 | language = ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing: Gyeonggi-do starts operating the Prevention and Countermeasures Headquarters}} After 5 p.m., units from the SSU began undersea operations.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416130351054.HTML |script-title=ko:고교생 등 477명 탄 여객선 침몰...290명 생사불명 | work =Yonhap News |date=16 April 2014 |access-date= 27 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=A ferry with 477 people, including high school students capsize... 290 missing}} At 5:13 p.m., the Gyeonggi-do Office of Education was reported to have started operating the Ansan Danwon High School Accident Countermeasures Report Compiling Headquarters ({{Korean|hangul=안산 단원고 사고대책 종합상황본부|labels=no}}).{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416176200061.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 경기교육청 종합상황본부 확대 설치 | work =Yonhap News |date=16 April 2014 | access-date =27 April 2014 |language = ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing: The Gyeonggi-do Office of Education establishes the Accident Countermeasures Report Compiling Headquarters}} At 8:00 p.m., operations investigating the ship's hull were ceased.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/16/0701000000AKR20140416214300054.HTML |script-title=ko:침몰 여객선 선체 수색 중단...17일 새벽 재개키로 | work =Yonhap news | date=16 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=The hull investigations of the capsized ferry stopped... Operations planned to begin again on the morning of the 17th}}

As of 10:03 p.m., the following units were involved in rescue operations: Naval forces include sailors from the 3rd Fleet ({{Korean|hangul=제3함대|hanja=第三艦隊|labels=no}}), a {{Sclass|Dokdo|amphibious assault ship|1}}, a {{Sclass|Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin|destroyer|1}}, and an {{Sclass|Ulsan|frigate|1}}. The Republic of Korea Air Force sent support units such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk, and HH-47 variant of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. The Republic of Korea Army sent units including 150 Special Warfare Command soldiers and eleven ambulances.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Jong-won |url=http://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=20140416010010346 | script-title=ko:[진도 여객선 침몰] 군·해경 선체수색 나섰지만 안타깝게... | work = Asia Today | date =16 April 2014 | access-date= 17 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Jin-do ferry capsize: Military, navy went to investigate but regretfully...}}

File:U.S. Navy helicopter landing on a ship after Sewol rescue operation.jpg conducted search and rescue operations at the request of the South Korean navy near where Sewol sank, on 17 April 2014.]]

Starting on 17 April, Undine Marine Industries, a privately held company,{{cite news |last=Withnall |first=Adam |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-disaster-civilian-divers-scouring-the-sewol-wreckage-are-being-paid-by-the-body-presidential-office-suggests-9435932.html |title=South Korea ferry disaster: Civilian divers scouring the Sewol wreckage are being 'paid by the body', presidential office suggests |publisher= Independent Print Limited |work=The Independent |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}} began to lead the search for missing passengers.{{cite news |last=Choi |first=He-suk |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140430001220 |title=[Newsmaker] Rescue firm blamed for favoritism, slow work |publisher=Herald Corporation |work=The Korea Herald |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}} At 12:30 a.m., hull investigations were started by the KCG with the help of flares.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/17/0701000000AKR20140417001200054.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 조명탄 쏘며 선체 수색 재개 |work=Yonhap News Agency |publisher=Yonhap |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014 |language=ko|trans-title=Ferry Capsizing – Hull investigations begin again while shooting flares}} As of 6:00 a.m., 171 ships, twenty-nine aircraft and thirty divers were involved in the rescue effort. The KCG had assigned twenty divers in teams of two. The ROK Navy also assigned eight divers,{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Han-sik |last2=Kim |first2=Tae-seong |last3=Park |first3=Jun-bae |last4=Kim |first4=Ho |url=http://news1.kr/articles/1636893 |script-title=ko:오전 7시 수색 개시...사망자 6명 모두 신원 확인(종합) |publisher=News1 Korea |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=17 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Start Investigation at 7 a.m.... all six deaths identified}} but the KCG prevented them from participating and waited for divers from Undine Industries.{{cite news |last=Kang |first=Jin-kyu |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2988697 |title=Navy's divers grounded day after ferry accident |publisher=JoongAng Ilbo |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}} At 7:24 a.m., civilian groups of expert divers were reported to be helping out in the rescue operations.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/17/0701000000AKR20140417023000052.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 다이버 등 민간단체 수색·구조에 동참 |work=Yonhap News Agency |publisher=Yonhap |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing – Civilian groups such as divers help in the search/rescue operations}} During the morning, the number of divers involved in the operations reached 555.{{cite news |last=Ahn |first=Kwan-ok |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/633260.html |title=Hundreds missing in tragic ferry sinking |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}} The navy also established a military control tower on the Dokdo-class assault ship.{{cite news |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/full/2014/04/17/60/1200000000AEN20140417002053315F.html |title=(3rd LD) Nearly 300 still missing in ferry disaster |publisher=Yonhap |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}} Starting around 2:00 p.m., rescue operations were practically stopped due to bad weather conditions.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/17/0701000000AKR20140417126900051.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> "야속한 하늘이여" 기상악화로 수색중단 |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing – "The cruel sky" Search operations stopped due to worsening weather conditions}} A marine crane arrived on the scene at night.{{cite news |last=Song |first=Su-hyun |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2988142 |title=Massive marine cranes arrive to aid rescue efforts |publisher=JoongAng Ilbo |work=Korea JoongAng Daily |date=19 April 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}}

At 10:50 a.m. on 18 April,{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/18/0701000000AKR20140418074400004.HTML |script-title=ko:중대본 "오전 10시50분부터 선체로 공기주입 시작"(속보) |publisher=Yonhap |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Central Disaster Headquarters [say] "Started pumping air inside the ship on 10:50 a.m."(Breaking news)}} the KCG began pumping in air to support possible air pockets. At the same time, divers entered the capsized ship's hull{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Malcolm |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10774519/South-Korean-ferry-disaster-Captain-abandoned-ship-while-passengers-told-to-stay-below.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10774519/South-Korean-ferry-disaster-Captain-abandoned-ship-while-passengers-told-to-stay-below.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=South Korean ferry disaster: Captain 'abandoned ship while passengers told to stay below' |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |work=The Telegraph |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}}{{cbignore}} but only gained access to the cargo deck.{{cite news |last1=Jang |first1=Jung-min |last2=Park |first2=Ju-min |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idINKBN0D402G20140418 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229022246/http://in.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idINKBN0D402G20140418 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 December 2015 |title=S.Korea ferry captain rushed back to bridge as ship listed – crewman |publisher=Thomson Reuters |work=Reuters |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}} The divers' entrance was later labeled a 'failure' by the Central Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters.{{cite news |url=http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0115_201404181541340186 | script-title=ko:[속보] 중대본, 선내 진입 성공→실패로 정정 |publisher=YTN |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=28 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Breaking News: Central Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters, change investigations inside from success to failure}} On 19 April, a navy petty officer who was injured during rescue operations died.{{cite news |last=Choi |first=He-suk |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140420000197 |title=[Ferry Disaster] Navy sailor dies from injury sustained while supporting Sewol rescue |publisher=Herald Corporation |work=The Korea Herald |date=20 April 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014}} On 21 April, remotely operated underwater vehicles began to be used for operations.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/22/0200000000AKR20140422136700051.HTML |script-title=ko:<세월호참사> 침몰 7일째 무인탐사기 '게 로봇' 투입 |work=Yonhap News |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=30 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Sewol Disaster: On the 7th day of the capsizing, unmanned search devices 'Crabster robot' added to operations}} On 24 April, the CR200 'Crabster' robot was sent to the rescue site.{{cite news |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/cr2000-crabster-sewol-sinking-160510555.html |title=CR2000 'Crabster' at Sewol Sinking Site |publisher=Yahoo! |work=Yahoo News |access-date=26 September 2014}} An Undine Marine diver died on 6 May,{{cite news |last=Kwaak |first=Jeyup S. |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304101504579544570289407710 |title=Diver's Death in Ferry Search Highlights Difficulties |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=6 May 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/05/south-korean-diver-dies-during-ferry-search-20145651238399296.html |title=South Korean diver dies during ferry search |agency= Agence France-Presse| publisher =Al Jazeera |date=6 May 2014 |access-date=6 May 2014}} followed by another diver's death on 30 May.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/30/south-korea-ferry-search-diver-dies |title=South Korea ferry search diver dies |publisher=The Guardian |work=Agence France-Presse |date=30 May 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014}} On 17 July, a firefighting helicopter returning from rescue operations crashed near an apartment complex, killing all five officers aboard and injuring a high school student.{{cite news |last1=Kwon |first1=KJ |last2=Smith-Spark |first2=Laura |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/17/world/asia/south-korea-sewol-helicopter-crash/ |title=Sewol ferry search helicopter crash kills 5 in South Korea |date=17 July 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/firefighting-helicopter-crashes-in-south-korea-killing-5/ |title=Firefighting helicopter crashes in South Korea, killing 5 |publisher=Fox News Channel |agency=Associated Press |date=17 July 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014}}

The government announced on 22 April 2015 that it had approved plans to salvage the wreckage of Sewol in hopes of finding more information about the sinking and recovering the bodies of nine victims still missing. The plan was initially put forward by President Park Geun-hye and was endorsed by the minister of public safety and security, Park In-yong. The operation was expected to take as long as eighteen months and to cost between US$91–137 million.{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7b441b58978e498c86b54da2f2ac7533/south-korea-approve-plans-salvage-sunken-ferry|title=South Korea approve plans to salvage sunken ferry|work=The Big Story|access-date=22 April 2015}}

File:US Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit responding to the scene of Korean passenger ship Sewol that sank April 16 2014.jpg responding to the scene of the Sewol sinking on 16 April 2014]]

The {{USS|Bonhomme Richard|LHD-6|6}} was sent to assist in the air-sea rescue operation,{{cite news|last=Rowland|first=Ashley|title=USS Bonhomme Richard Heads to Capsized Korea Ferry|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/04/16/uss-bonhomme-richard-heads-to-capsized-south-korea-ferry.html |access-date=16 April 2014|newspaper=Stars and Stripes | publisher = Military |date= 16 April 2014 |archive-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416192004/http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/04/16/uss-bonhomme-richard-heads-to-capsized-south-korea-ferry.html?comp=700001075741&rank=3 }}{{cite news|last=Wyllie|first=David|title=South Korea Ferry Sinking: U.S. Navy Ship to Join Rescue Effort|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/south-korea-ferry-disaster/south-korea-ferry-sinking-u-s-navy-ship-join-rescue-n81606 |access-date=16 April 2014|publisher=NBC News|date=16 April 2014}} but did not get the approval of the ROK Navy for its helicopters to participate in the rescue.{{cite news |script-title=ko:침몰 당시 구조하러 온 미군 헬기, 우리 군이 돌려보내 |newspaper=The Hankyoreh | date =18 April 2014 |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/politics_general/633290.html |access-date=20 April 2014|language=ko}}

The US Navy rescue and salvage {{USNS|Safeguard|T-ARS-50|6}} was sent to South Korea to take part in the rescue operation.{{cite news|last=Rowland | first=Ashley | title=Navy recovery vessel USNS Safeguard en route to South Korea |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-recovery-vessel-usns-safeguard-en-route-to-south-korea-1.279392 |newspaper= Stars and Stripes| date= 23 April 2014}}{{cite news| title=(LEAD) S. Korea readies 'diving bell' for search of sunken ferry |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2014/04/30/38/0302000000AEN20140430002651315F.html |newspaper = Yonhap News Agency|date=30 April 2014}}

The Japan Coast Guard offered support, as well as a message of sympathy and condolences from the Japanese government. The KCG declined the offer, saying that, while the offer was welcome, special assistance was not needed on this occasion.{{cite web|script-title=ja:韓国「特段支援はいらない」...海保の申し出辞退|work=Yomiuri Shimbun|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20140417-OYT1T50115.html|date=18 April 2014|access-date=18 April 2014|language=ja|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417104831/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20140417-OYT1T50115.html}}

At 11:01 a.m., Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation began reporting that all students had been rescued; this news was re-reported by other news organizations and continued until 11:26 a.m.{{cite news |last=Yu |first=Seong-hae |date=21 May 2014 |script-title=ko:"세월호 '학생 전원 구조' 최초 오보는 MBC"... 왜? |trans-title="MV Sewol 'All Students Rescued' First Misreport made by MBC"... Why? |url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001994002 |access-date=29 September 2014 |publisher=OhmyNews |language=ko}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=March 2025}} Around 11 a.m. KST, officers working for the educational departments for the Gyeonggi Province sent text messages to the students' parents stating that all students had been rescued.{{cite news |date=17 April 2014 |title=Ferry Tragedy Could Have Been Avoided |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/17/2014041701615.html |access-date=29 September 2014 |work=The Chosun Ilbo }} The officers' belief was apparently confirmed by a police officer in the Danwon Police Department.

Initial reports stated that rescuers retrieved 368 people from cold waters as the passengers, mostly students, had jumped overboard when the vessel started sinking; the South Korean government later corrected this statement, saying 295 passengers remained missing.{{cite news |last=Sridharan |first=Vasudevan |date=16 April 2014 |title=South Korea Ferry Tragedy: US Amphibious Assault Vessel to Join Rescue Operation as 295 Remain Missing |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/south-korea-ferry-tragedy-us-amphibious-assault-vessel-join-rescue-operation-295-remain-missing-1445002 |newspaper=International Business Times}} Twenty-two of the twenty-nine crew survived, including fifteen responsible for the navigation.{{cite news |date=6 May 2014 |title=Civilian Diver Dies Searching for Bodies From South Korea Ferry |url=https://time.com/88957/civilian-diver-dies-searching-for-bodies-from-south-korea-ferry/ |newspaper=Time}}

In its 17 April morning edition, The Chosun Ilbo reported that 174 people had been rescued, four had died, and 284 were missing.{{cite news |last1=Kwon |first1=Gyeong-an |last2=Kim |first2=Hyeong-won |date=17 April 2014 |script-title=ko:침몰까지 140分... 눈뜨고 아이들 잃는 나라 |trans-title=140 Minutes to capsizing... A country that loses children while staring |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}} According to CNN and its affiliate YTN, six people died.{{cite news |date=16 April 2014 |title=South Korean shipwreck survivors: Passengers told 'don't move' as ship sank |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/16/world/asia/south-korea-sinking-ship-students/ |publisher=CNN}} News1 Korea reported that, as of 8:00 a.m., 179 people had been rescued, six had died and 290 were missing. Three more people were found dead at 11:00 a.m. and the confirmed death toll rose to nine.{{cite news |date=17 April 2014 |title=(2nd LD) Search resumes for missing in sunken ferry |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2014/04/17/60/0302000000AEN20140417002052315F.html |access-date=17 April 2014 |newspaper=Yonhap}} At 10 p.m., Yonhap confirmed that the death toll had risen to fourteen.{{cite news |date=17 April 2014 |script-title=ko:해경 무인로봇 동원 수색재개...사망자 14명으로 늘어 |trans-title=Coast Guard restarts operations with unmanned robots... death counts increase to 14 |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2014/04/17/0701000000AKR20140417200300054.HTML?template=2085 |access-date=17 April 2014 |work=Yonhap News Agency |publisher=Yonhap |language=ko}} Over the course of the following months, the death toll rose into the hundreds.{{cite news |date=18 April 2014 |title=S. Korea ferry sinking:Hundreds still missing (Updated Friday) |url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/405303/s-korea-ferry-sinking-almost-300-still-missing |access-date=18 April 2014}}{{cite news |title=Death toll in South Korean Ferry Tragedy reaches 36 |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/death-toll-in-south-korean-ferry-tragedy-reaches-36/ |access-date=19 April 2014 |publisher=Biharprabha |agency=Indo-Asian News Service}}{{cite news |date=20 April 2014 |title=Divers comb sunken ferry after recovering 13 bodies from inside |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2014/04/20/78/0302000000AEN20140420000600315F.html |access-date=19 April 2014 |agency=Yonhap News Agency}} The death toll stood at 294 as of 22 July 2014, with ten missing; the date marked the recovery of the last cabin crew member.{{cite news |date=22 July 2014 |title=Badly decomposed body found in South Korea is fugitive ferry tycoon, say police |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/22/body-found-south-korea-sewol-ferry-businessman-yoo-byung-un |access-date=22 April 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian}}

The sinking of Sewol is the deadliest ferry disaster in South Korea since 14 December 1970, when the sinking of the ferry Namyoung killed 326 out of the 338 people aboard.{{cite web |last=Hong |first=Gil-dong |date=18 April 2014 |title=Major disasters in Korea |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140418001041 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612120338/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140418001041 |archive-date=12 June 2014 |access-date=31 May 2014 |work=The Korea Herald}}{{cite news |date=16 April 2014 |title=Over 280 missing after South Korean ferry capsizes |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idINKBN0D205U20140416 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605125600/http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/04/16/us-korea-ship-idINKBN0D205U20140416 |archive-date=5 June 2014 |work=Reuters}}

File:2017 MV Sewol in Mokpo New Port.jpg

As of 13 December 2022, investigators have concluded that the cause of the sinking was undetermined.{{Citation |title=FAILURE TO FIND CAUSE OF SEWOL SINKING (News Today) l KBS WORLD TV 220608 | date=8 June 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjhs9kDKglE |language=en |access-date=2022-12-14}} Early theories about the sinking included a range of explanations, given as follows.

An "unreasonably sudden turn" to starboard,{{cite news |url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201404171751441&code=940100 |script-title=ko:세월호 사고원인 '변침' 잠정 결론...시간대별 구성 | work =Kyunghyang Shinmun |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=18 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Sewol's cause of accident 'sudden turn' is concluded to be the cause... timeline}} made between 8:48 and 8:49 a.m. KST,{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/04/18/304317291/transcript-shows-ferry-captain-delayed-evacuation |title=Transcript Shows Ferry Captain Delayed Evacuation |publisher=NPR |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420111621/http://www.npr.org/2014/04/18/304317291/transcript-shows-ferry-captain-delayed-evacuation |archive-date=20 April 2014 }} caused the cargo to shift to port, which in turn caused the ship to list and to eventually become unmanageable for the crew. The existence of the sudden turn has been confirmed by the analysis of the ship's AIS data.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/local/2014/04/17/0805000000AKR20140417040400054.HTML |script-title=ko:'세월호' 침몰, 급격한 방향전환이 원인으로 드러나 | work = Yonhap News |date= 17 April 2014 |access-date= 17 April 2014 |language = ko |trans-title='Sewol' capsizing: a sudden turn is revealed to be the cause}} The ship's crew agreed that the main cause was the sudden turn.{{cite news |url=http://www.mbn.co.kr/pages/vod/programView.mbn?bcastSeqNo=1069809 | script-title=ko:수사세월호 선원들 "변침 실수...복원력 부족했다" |publisher=Maeil Broadcasting Network |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Investigation: MV Sewol's crew "Mistake with the sudden turn... did not have enough restoring force"}} Experts such as Lee Sang-yun, a professor and head of the environment/maritime technology institute of the Pukyong National University, also agreed.{{cite news |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/17/0200000000AKR20140417154500051.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> "'과속+유속' 복원력 상실 가능성" |publisher = Yonhap News |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=2 May 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Ferry Capsizing: 'Acceleration + Velocity' could be a possibility for losing stability | quote = '{{lang|ko-Hang|과속+유속' 복원력 상실 가능성, 3단계는 이 장애물을 피하기 위해 배를 급격히 선회했다는 것이다}}}}

Overloading and improperly secured cargo were also thought to contribute to the sinking.{{cite news |url=http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0115_201405040952403761 | script-title=ko:물류팀 처벌 마무리·과적 직접 원인 가능성 | publisher =YTN |date=4 May 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Finished prosecuting the distribution team; Finish and overloading viewed as direct causes}} Sewol was carrying 3,608 tons of cargo, more than three times the limit of 987 tons.{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Charlie |url=https://time.com/85501/sewol-ferry-overweight-south-korea/ |title=Reports: The South Korean Ferry Sank Because It Was Dangerously Overloaded |work=Time magazine |date=2 May 2014 |access-date= 4 May 2014}} It is estimated that the actual cargo on the day of the sinking weighed 2,215 tons, including 920 tons of trucks, cars and heavy equipment, 131 tons of containers and 1,164 tons of general goods. The cargo included building materials destined for naval bases on the island of Jeju. The overloading was also previously noted by Sewol{{'}}s off-duty captain and the first mate;{{cite news |last = Park |first=Eun-Jee |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2988698 |title=Doomed Sewol carried three times its cargo limit |work=Korea JoongAng Daily|publisher=JoongAng Ilbo |date=2 May 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014}} the off-duty captain reported that the ship's owners ignored his warning that she should not carry so much cargo because she would not be stable.{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/30/south-korea-ferry-stability-warning_n_5238455.html |title=South Korea Ferry Owners Ignored Warning About Stability Problems, Off-Duty Captain Says |work=Huffington Post|agency=Associated Press |date=30 April 2014 |access-date=6 May 2014}} Lee Sang-yun also proposed overloading as a cause.{{cite news |last=Bae |first=Ji-sook |url=http://khnews.kheraldm.com/view.php?ud=20140420000299&md=20140423005128_BK |title= Ferry Disaster: 'Overload, massive extension might have caused disaster' |work=The Korea Herald |publisher=Herald Corp | date=20 April 2014 |access-date=2 May 2014}}

Sewol was carrying only 580 tons of ballast water, much less than the recommended 2,030 tons; this would make the vessel more prone to list and capsize.{{cite web |url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/06/17/kore-j17.html|title=Murder trial of Sewol captain begins in South Korea|publisher=wsws.org|date=17 June 2014|access-date=23 June 2014}} The crew had reportedly pumped out hundreds of tons of ballast water from the bottom of the ship in order to accommodate the additional cargo.{{cite news|title=Captain and 3 Officers Charged With Murder in Korean Ferry Sinking|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/world/asia/captain-and-3-officers-charged-with-murder-in-korean-ferry-sinking.html?hpw&rref=world&_r=0|access-date=16 May 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 May 2014}} The combination of the lack of ballast water and excess cargo meant that the center of gravity on the Sewol was too high for safe operation and the amount of force needed to capsize the ship was reduced to a dangerously low level. The newspaper The Chosun Ilbo argued that the discharging of ballast water was a cause of the incident.{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/06/2014050600343.html | title = Greed Was Biggest Culprit in Ferry Disaster | work=The Chosun Ilbo |date= 6 May 2014 |access-date= 6 May 2014}}

Secondary causes also contributed to the capsizing of the ferry by decreasing the restoring force.{{cite news |url=http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_201405031334319812 | script-title=ko:세월호 참사로 본 해양업계 관행은? [공길영, 한국해양대 항해학부 교수] |publisher=YTN |date=3 May 2014 |access-date=4 May 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Custom of the maritime industry as seen by the Sewol disaster? ―Gong Gil-young, a professor of Navigation at the Korea Maritime University}} Renovations which added extra passenger cabins have been proposed as a main secondary cause by Kim Gil-soo ({{Korean|labels=no|김길수}}), a professor in the maritime transport technological department at the Korea Maritime University.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Ji-eun |url=http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/society/201404/h2014041803354621950.htm |script-title=ko:[진도 여객선 침몰 참사] 항로변경前 이미 선체 손상 가능성... 급선회하며 쏠림현상 겹친 듯 |publisher=인터넷한국일보 |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=18 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Jindo ferry capsizing: Before the turn, a possibility of prior structural damage... the sudden turn and the cargo piling appears to have combined |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417205841/http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/society/201404/h2014041803354621950.htm |archive-date=17 April 2014 }}{{cite web |script-title=ko:세월호, 기준치 3배 화물 실었다... 복원성 '상실' 가능성 |date=22 April 2014 |publisher=OhmyNews |url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001983613}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=March 2025}} This possible cause has also been supported by the off-duty captain{{cite news |last=Park |first=Chan-Kyong |url=https://news.yahoo.com/korean-president-apologises-over-ferry-disaster-033709480.html | title= Captain says warnings over Korean ferry ignored |agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=Yahoo! |date=29 April 2014 |access-date= 4 May 2014}} as well as Lee Sang-yun.

It was theorized that the solenoid valve became stuck, which contributed to the sharp turn. The Social Disasters Commission (SDC), an investigation team, concluded that it is highly improbable that this occurred. The SDC also concluded that it cannot confirm if the cause of the sinking was due to an external force, although there was some deformation and damage to the Sewol's hull.{{Cite web |author=W.P. Stewart |author2=P. George |author3=W. Ashley |author4=A. Guha |author5=V. Achanta |website=Stewart Technology Associates |date=May 2017 |title=Heavy Lift Dynamics, Sewol Ferry Offshore Salvage |url=https://stewart-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/OTC-27695-Heavy-Lift-Dynamics-Sewol-Ferry-Offshore-Salvage-2017.pdf |access-date=December 20, 2022}} The investigative committee was not able to rule out other causes for the sinking. The cause of the sinking was still undetermined as of December 2022.{{Cite web |script-title=ko:사참위 종합보고서 |url=http://socialdisasterscommission.co.kr/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=socialdisasterscommission.co.kr |language=ko}}

Gong Gil-young ({{Korean|labels=no|공길영}}), a professor of aviation engineering at Korea Maritime University, commented that Sewol{{'}}s sudden turn was simply the 'first cause' and that there were secondary causes to the incident. He advocated an explosion as the most probable secondary cause.{{cite news |url=http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_201404171308001729 |script-title=ko:선박 내부 구조와 침몰 원인은? [공길영, 한국해양대 교수] | publisher =YTN |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=18 April 2014 |language= ko |trans-title=The inside structure of the ship and the cause of the capsizing? ―Kong Gil-Young, professor of the Korea Maritime University}}{{Cite news |url=http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20140416001617&md=20140419004837_BK | script-title=ko:［진도 해상 여객선 침몰］세월호 침몰 원인?..."암초 충돌로 긴 파공 생겼을 것" |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=21 May 2014 |quote={{lang|ko-Hang|공길영 한국해양대 항해시스템공학부 교수는 "사고 해역은 암초가 전혀 없는 곳이기 때문에 암초 충돌 가능성은 희박하다"며 "카페리 특성상 배에 실려 있던 화물이나 차량에서 폭발이 일어나면서 선체에 파공이 생겨 침수됐을 개연성이 높다"고 지적}} | language = ko |work=Herald Corp}}

At the beginning of the investigation, the KCG thought that the cause was a collision with a reef, believing this likely because the area was foggy.{{cite news |url=http://mbn.mk.co.kr/pages/news/newsView.php?category=mbn00009&news_seq_no=1754151 | script-title=ko:[속보] 진도 여객선 침몰 이유? "안개 탓으로 암초 부딪혀..." |work=Maeil Broadcasting Network |date= 16 April 2014 |access-date= 19 April 2014 | language=ko |trans-title=Breaking News: The cause of Jindo Ferry capsizing? "Due to the fog, the ferry hit a reef..."}} Captain Lee denied this was the cause of the sinking,{{cite news |last= Lee | first = Hyeong-ju |url=http://news.donga.com/Main/3/all/20140417/62829491/1 | script-title=ko:[단독]선장 "암초충돌 아니다... 원인 몰라" |work=The Dong-A Ilbo |publisher= Dong A |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=19 April 2014 | language =ko |trans-title=Exclusive: Captain says "It's not a collision with a reef... don't know the cause"}} and a reef collision has been dismissed as a cause by consensus among experts.{{cite news | last = Lee | first= Gyeong-jin |url=http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=1397673287686054016 | title = 진도 여객선 세월호 침몰 원인, 변침으로 잠정결론...'에어포켓만이 희망' | work = TV Daily | publisher= Asia E | date = 17 April 2014 | access-date=19 April 2014 |trans-title=The cause of the Jindo Ferry Sewol capsizing, temporarily concluded as a sudden turn... 'the only hope is air pockets'}} The theory is also not currently advocated by the KCG.

Several media outlets, such as the Jaju Sibo (Self-Reliance News) have speculated the ferry sinking to be result of crashing with a submarine.{{cite news |url=http://www.jajusibo.com/22520 |script-title=ko:세월호 사고원인, 잠수함과 충돌 가능성 높아 | publisher =Jaju Sibo|date=19 April 2014 |access-date=9 January 2022 |language= ko |trans-title=The cause of the Sewol ferry accident is likely collision with a submarine}} This was from discussions over a screenshot from videos of the ferry sinking, where a dark vessel was visible in sea fog behind the ship. While most media correctly identified the vessel as a fishing boat, a few have concluded this to be a military submarine of South Korean, Japanese, American, French, or Israeli origin. This theory was repeated by online vigilante group "Zaro -- Netizens' investigation team", who pointed out in a 9-hour long video that the route taken by the ill-fated ferry didn't match conventional routes, and external factors such as a submarine collision can explain the disaster. He claimed an errant sub collided with the Sewol based on his analysis of radar recordings and the Navy may have concealed the submarine crash in order to achieve its goal of sailing {{convert|2|e6mi|e6km|abbr=off}} without a sinking.{{cite news |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20161227005200315 |title=Navy says Sewol ferry sinking not caused by submarine collision |work=Yonhap News Agency|date=26 December 2016 |access-date=9 January 2022 |language= en}}

On 19 April, Captain Lee Jun-seok was arrested on suspicion of negligence of duty, violation of maritime law and other infringements.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=YouKyung |last2=Klug |first2=Foster |url=https://news.yahoo.com/captain-sunken-skorean-ferry-2-crew-arrested-095621447.html |title=Captain of sunken SKorean ferry, 2 crew arrested |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Yahoo! |date=19 April 2014 |access-date=15 May 2014}} Lee had abandoned Sewol with passengers still aboard the ferry, while South Korean law explicitly requires captains to remain on the ship during a disaster.{{Cite news |last=Mullen |first=Jethro |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/21/world/asia/ship-captain-role/ |title=Abandon ship? In recent maritime disasters, captains don't hang around |publisher=CNN|date=23 April 2014 |access-date=2 May 2014}}{{cite news |title=Breaking Proud Tradition, Captains Flee and Let Others Go Down With Ship |last1=Drew |first1=Christopher |last2=Mouawad |first2=Jad |work=The New York Times |date=19 April 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/world/asia/in-sad-twist-on-proud-tradition-captains-let-others-go-down-with-ship.html |access-date=20 April 2014}}{{cite wikisource |script-title=ko:대한민국 선원법 |trans-title=ROK Maritime Law concerning Sailors |wslink=%EB%8C%80%ED%95%9C%EB%AF%BC%EA%B5%AD_%EC%84%A0%EC%9B%90%EB%B2%95#.EC.A0.9C2.EC.9E.A5_.EC.84.A0.EC.9E.A5.EC.9D.98_.EC.A7.81.EB.AC.B4.EC.99.80_.EA.B6.8C.ED.95.9C |year=2008 |wslanguage=ko}} Two other crew members, a helmsman and the third mate, were also arrested on that day on suspicion of negligence and manslaughter.{{cite news |last=Choi |first=He-suk |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140420000388&mod=skb |title=[Ferry Disaster] Communications log shows gross negligence of crew |work=The Korea Herald |date=20 April 2014 |access-date=15 May 2014}} By 26 April, twelve further arrests had been made with the whole crew responsible for navigation in detention.{{cite news |last=Park |first=Ju-Min |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-korea-ship-idUSBREA3F01Y20140421 |title=South Korea's Park says conduct of ferry crew tantamount to murder |work=Reuters |date=21 April 2014 |access-date=15 May 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Hyung-Jin |last2=Lee |first2=YouKyung |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/26/sewol-crew-in-custody_n_5217988.html |title=Entire Crew That Navigated Sunken South Korean Ferry 'Sewol' Now in Custody |agency=Associated Press |work=Huffington Post |date=26 April 2014 |access-date=15 May 2014}}

On 15 May, Captain Lee, First Mate Kang Won-sik, Second Mate Kim Young-ho, and Chief Engineer Park Gi-ho were indicted on charges of homicide through gross negligence (also described as murder), which carry a potential death penalty.{{cite news|last=Ryall|first=Julian|title=South Korea ferry captain charged with manslaughter|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10832527/South-Korea-ferry-captain-charged-with-manslaughter.html|access-date=15 May 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=15 May 2014|location=London}}{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Sam|title=Korea Charges Four Crew Members of Sunken Ship With Homicide|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-05-15/s-dot-korea-charges-four-crew-members-of-sunken-ferry-with-homicide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518025938/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-05-15/s-dot-korea-charges-four-crew-members-of-sunken-ferry-with-homicide|archive-date=18 May 2014|access-date=15 May 2014|newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=15 May 2014}}{{cite news|title=Prime Time News 22:00|url=http://www.arirang.co.kr/Player/TV_VOD.asp?HL=H&code=News&vSeq=78740|access-date=16 May 2014|date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517151238/http://www.arirang.co.kr/Player/TV_VOD.asp?HL=H&code=News&vSeq=78740|archive-date=17 May 2014}} The other eleven crew members faced lesser charges of abandoning the ship and ship safety offences.

Three crew members, Park Ji-young, Jeong Hyun-seon, and Kim Ki-woong, were credited by survivors with staying aboard the ferry to help passengers escape. All three went down with the sinking vessel.{{cite magazine|author=Per Liljas |url=https://time.com/73275/sewol-crew-heroes-ferry-korea/ |title=South Korea Ferry Disaster: Heroes Among 'Sewol' Crew Praised |magazine=Time |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=21 May 2014}}

On 8 May, the chief executive of Chonghaejin, Kim Han-sik, was arrested and faced charges including causing death by negligence.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/world/asia/south-korea-ship-sinking/index.html |title=South Korea cracking down on operator in Sewol ferry disaster; CEO arrested |publisher=CNN |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014}} Four other Chonghaejin officials were also taken into custody.{{cite news |last=Kwaak |first=Jeyup S. |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304655304579549420739657070 |title=South Korean Prosecutors Arrest Chief Executive of Sewol Ferry Operator |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=15 May 2014}} The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries revoked the company's license to operate ferries on the Incheon-Jeju Island route in May 2014.{{cite news|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/05/13/2014051300779.html |title=Ferry Owner's Children Go Underground |publisher=The Chosun Ilbo |date=13 May 2014 |access-date=9 June 2014}}

The Sewol disaster raised questions regarding governmental regulation of shipping in South Korea. Shipping is regulated by the Korean Shipping Association, which is also an industry trade group, something experts consider a likely conflict of interest. In addition, government regulators outside the Association frequently move to jobs as part of the association after their government service. Yun Jong-hwui, a professor at Korea Maritime and Ocean University, notes that while South Korean regulations are strong, they are often poorly enforced.{{cite news |last1=Nam |first1=In-soo|last2=Lee |first2=Min-jeong|last3=Kwaak |first3=Jeyup S.|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304518704579518993969767898 |url-access=subscription |title=South Korea Ferry Probe: Cargo Was Three Times Recommended Maximum |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=1 June 2014 |quote=Chonghaejin's audit report for last year showed the company spent 541,000 won ($521) on crew training, including evacuation drills, as it ran a 2013 operating loss of 785 million won. In comparison, Daea Express Shipping Co., which runs four ferries on the one-hour Incheon-Deokjuk island route, spent 11.14 million won on crew training last year.}}

On 3 June, the Gwangju District Court issued arrest warrants for a senior vessel safety operator of the Korea Shipping Association's Incheon unit and a vessel inspector of the KR's Mokpo unit.{{cite news|author=Hong Gil-dong |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140603001661 |title=Arrest warrants issued for two ship inspectors |publisher=The Korea Herald |date=3 June 2014 |access-date=8 June 2014}} Amongst fifteen crew accused of the sinking, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Captain Lee under the charge of homicide for failing to carry out his duty. Lead prosecutor Park Jae-eok said: "Lee supplied the cause of the sinking of the Sewol ... he has the heaviest responsibility for the accident. We ask that the court sentence him to death." While no formal pleas were made, Lee denied intent to kill. The others had lesser charges, including negligence.

On 11 November, the Gwangju District Court found Captain Lee guilty of negligence and sentenced him to thirty-six years' imprisonment. The judges said that he was clearly not the only person responsible for the tragedy and they accepted that his negligence did not amount to an intent to kill. Chief Engineer Park Gi-ho was found guilty of murder and jailed for thirty years. Thirteen other crew members were given jail sentences of up to twenty years imprisonment on charges including abandonment and violating maritime law. Relatives of victims were distraught at the verdict, with some weeping. Agence France-Presse reported that one woman screamed in the courtroom: "It's not fair! What about the lives of our children? They (the defendants) deserve worse than death!"{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29999156|title=Ferry trial – Sewol captain sentenced to 36 years in jail|work=BBC News|date=11 November 2014|access-date=12 November 2014}}

In the cases against officials over the overloading of cargo, Kim Han-sik, Chonghaejin's chief executive, was found guilty of negligence and received a ten-year prison term. Six other Chonghaejin employees and a Korean Shipping Association official also received prison sentences.{{cite news|title=South Korea ferry boss jailed for 10 years over Sewol sinking|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/20/south-korea-sewol-ferry-operator-boss-jailed-10-years|access-date=13 May 2015|work=The Guardian|agency=AP|date=20 November 2014|location=London}}

Following appeals by prosecutors and the accused, on 28 April 2015, Captain Lee was found guilty of murder and his sentence increased to life imprisonment, while those for fourteen other crew members were reduced to a maximum of twelve years, including ten years for Chief Engineer Park Gi-ho, whose murder conviction was overturned.{{cite news|last1=Lee Kyung-min|title=Sewol captain gets life in prison|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/04/116_177916.html|access-date=29 April 2015|newspaper=The Korea Times|date=28 April 2015}} Judge Jeon Il-ho explained: "We drew a distinction between the Captain Lee Joon-seok, who has a grave responsibility, and crew members who took orders from the captain."{{cite news|title=Sewol ferry: S. Korea court gives captain life sentence for murder|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32492263|access-date=29 April 2015|publisher=BBC|date=28 April 2015}} Kim Han-sik's sentence was also reduced to seven years on appeal.{{cite news|last1=Choe|first1=Sang-hun|title=South Korean Court Lowers Jail Sentence of Ferry Company's Chief|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/world/asia/south-korean-court-lowers-jail-sentence-of-ferry-companys-chief.html?_r=0|access-date=13 May 2015|work=The New York Times|date=12 May 2015}}

Based on the National Crisis Management Basic Guidelines' explicit provisions, the Blue House should have played the role of a control tower in a national crisis situation. However, this control tower, which was absent on April 16, 2014, became active only when the public opinion toward the government worsened after the disaster. To prevent the spread of criticism of their administration, the Blue House provided misleading information to the public and took actions with the purpose of polarizing the public according to their political interests. The crisis was viewed by the Blue House as a "crisis of the regime," and in specific instances when there was a divide in public sentiment, the president and the government attacked the individuals and groups who were critical of them of being "ideologically biased" and "pro-North Korea forces," and imposed restrictions. During this process, the Blue House utilized right-wing organizations and strengthened their conservative base by providing financial support to the organizations that cooperated with them or by appointing active personnel to key positions. The Blue House did not protect the victims, but instead stigmatized them as instigated by politically aligned groups. In this way, Park Geun-hye's Blue House distorted the victims' demands, aggravated social conflict, and even hindered comprehensive fact-finding investigation efforts aimed to improve future disaster response capabilities and enact special laws.

The Social Disaster Special Investigation Committee confirmed that intelligence agencies such as the National Intelligence Service and the Defense Security Command illegally and unfairly supported the investigation and arrest operation of the Yoo Byung-eun family. At the time, the Blue House defined the Sewol ferry disaster as "a national disaster that caused suffering to the entire nation, caused by greedy expansion of wealth by the Yoo Byung-eun's family." The Blue House used the Yoo Byung-eun investigation and arrest operation as a trump card to deflect the government's responsibility for the Sewol Ferry disaster and to shift the blame onto the shipowner. The National Intelligence Service and the Defense Security Command actively supported the Blue House provisions in this matter.

On 16 November 2016, a report about the disaster, compiled by the National Intelligence Service and intended for President Park, was publicized. The report referred to the sinking as "just a ferry accident" ({{Korean|labels=no|그저 하나의 여객선 사고}}) and said "we must control the protest in the name of ferry accident ({{Korean|labels=no|여객선 사고를 빌미로 한 투쟁을 제어해야 한다}})." The report makes no mention of investigating the sinking, salvaging the hull, or supporting the victims' families, instead devoted to determining ways to "control the protesting attempt by the opposition forces in the name of the ferry accident and suggest a method about public opinion manipulation using the government-organized demonstrations."{{cite news|url=http://news.jtbc.joins.com/article/article.aspx?news_id=NB11357627|date=16 November 2016|publisher=JTBC|language=ko|script-title=ko:[단독]민정수석실 '세월호 문건' 입수…여론조작 조언도|trans-title=[Exclusive]Documents about 'MV Sewol' has been revealed. including the method about Public Opinion Manipulation}}

The sinking contributed to the political downfall of President Park. As criticism of her handling of the disaster grew stronger, Park's administration established a commission to monitor and prosecute her critics.{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/south-korea|title=South Korea {{!}} Country report {{!}} Freedom in the World {{!}} 2015|date=21 January 2015|website=freedomhouse.org|access-date=28 February 2016|archive-date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224080057/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2015/south-korea}} Tatsuya Kato, a Japanese journalist, was indicted on charges of defamation for reporting that Park had responded to the disaster by meeting with fringe religious leader Choi Soon-sil.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/korean-prosecutors-indict-japanese-journalist-on-defamation-charge-1412826990|title=Korean Prosecutors Indict Japanese Journalist on Defamation Charge – WSJ|newspaper=WSJ |publisher=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=1 November 2016 |last1=Gale |first1=Alastair }}{{cite web|url=http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/phone/news/view.jsp?req_newsidx=209657|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220306/http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/phone/news/view.jsp?req_newsidx=209657|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 November 2016|title=US journal criticizes Park's regression into dictatorship|date=18 July 2016 |publisher=The Korea Times|access-date=1 November 2016}} In 2016, the full extent of Choi's ties to Park emerged in South Korean media, which caused a corruption scandal that ultimately resulted in Park's impeachment by the National Assembly on 9 December. A unanimous Constitutional Court ruling on 10 March 2017 upheld the impeachment vote, ending her presidency.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39202936|title=Park Geun-hye: Court ousts South Korea's scandal-hit president|access-date=10 March 2017|agency=BBC}}

After Moon Jae-in was elected following Park's removal from office, documents revealed that Park had made a secret blacklist of artists to be barred from receiving any sort of government acknowledgement or sponsorship. It was further discovered that the initial purpose of this blacklist was to censor those who commemorated the Sewol victims in their artwork.{{cite news|url=http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201701121803087&code=710100|title=[Exclusive] The Blacklist Started with the Sewol|date=12 January 2017|publisher=Kyunghwang Shinmun}} In July 2017, members of the Park administration were imprisoned for up to three years for their role in creating the illegal blacklist.[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/world/asia/south-korea-park-aides-artists-blacklist.html 6 Ex-Officials in South Korea Are Sentenced for Blacklisting Artists] NYT

A subsequent investigation by the Moon administration launched in October 2017 revealed President Park spent crucial early hours of the rescue operation in her bedroom, meeting with Choi and getting her hair done before attending emergency meetings at 5pm, eight hours following the sinking.[https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2018/03/28/politics/Sevenhour-mystery-about-Park-Sewol-solved/3046205.html Seven-hour mystery about Park, Sewol solved] Korea JoongAng Daily National security officials Kim Jang-soo and Kim Kwan-jin, and former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon, were prosecuted on charges of manipulating the Blue House records of Park's whereabouts on the day of the sinking.

The arrest of Yoo Byung-eun and the confiscation of his property were key to ending the Sewol ferry scandal according to the Defense Security Command (DSC), and a special task force was organized to apprehend Yoo. The Defense Security Command argued that monitoring civilians in Geumsuwon, as well as collecting vast amounts of personal information on members of the Evangelical Baptist Church (Salvation Sect) were considered legitimate "administrative support." However, the activities of the Defense Security Command were determined to be operations that should only be carried out by investigative agencies, thus rendering these acts illegal as they could not be categorized as administrative support under the Administrative Procedures Act. It was also confirmed that these illegal actions taken by the Defense Security Command were regularly reported to the Blue House.{{Cite web |title=37_직나-12_정보기관(국정원, 기무사 등)의 세월호 참사 개입 여부에 대한 조사.pdf |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_3CWUWT5lK0vxcXh4sPwIKR5SkS_n3x/view?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Google Docs}}

The obstruction of the investigation by the Sewol Special Assistance Committee is considered to be a state crime committed deliberately and methodically. 'State crime' is a term used to describe human rights violations committed by the state itself. A government agency that was to cooperate with the Sewol Special Assistance Committee's investigation abused its authority to receive the details of the investigation, and together with the committee, used those details to hinder the investigation. Through this collusion, they were able to manipulate the situation.{{Cite web |title=32_직나-6_416세월호참사 특별조사위원회 등에 대한 진상규명 활동 방해 조사.pdf |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gOmb_C3RWI2Trj7Z_JHvFXZY_i6rNZLd/view?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Google Docs}}

The disaster is the subject of the 2014 documentary film The Truth Shall Not Sink with Sewol.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/busan-film-review-the-truth-shall-not-sink-with-sewol-1201322209/|title=Busan Film Review: 'The Truth Shall Not Sink With Sewol'|last=Chang|first=Justin|date=6 October 2014|website=Variety|access-date=16 October 2014}} The director's cut of the film was made available for public viewing on YouTube on 31 August 2015.{{cite news|url=http://star.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/OhmyStar/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002141507|date=5 September 2015|access-date=19 July 2016|publisher=OhmyNews|language=ko|script-title=ko:우리 방식대로 1000만 가자! 한국 다큐, 다시 세월호를 말하다|trans-title=Hoping for 10 million views! Korean documentary, sheds new light on the sinking of Sewol ferry}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=March 2025}} Two British filmmakers that were living in South Korea during the tragedy, Neil George and Matthew Root, created the documentary After the Sewol, which was released in several forms between 2016 and 2020. George later reorganized the footage into Crossroads, with Root credited only as producer, with a 38-minute cut made viewable through Asian Boss. The film uses interviews with survivors, emergency response workers, and family members of the victims along with news coverage to create a study about the conflicting reports about disaster.{{Cite news|url=http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=5387|title=New film "After The Sewol" explores the aftermath of the Sewol ferry disaster |work=JEJU WEEKLY|last=Elder|first=Duncan|language=ko|access-date=2020-02-16|archive-date=20 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020171528/http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=5387}} A separate short documentary In the Absence was created to showcase the disaster in real time, with audio, visual and multi-media messages and video from the victims. The documentary was nominated for Best Documentary Short in the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/in-the-absence-yi-seung-jun-gary-byung-seok-kam-oscars-documentary-short-interview-1202847908/|title=Oscar-Nominated 'In The Absence' Takes Haunting Look At Sewol Ferry Disaster|last1=Carey|first1=Matthew|date=2020-01-31|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-02-16}}

The disaster was depicted in fiction in the film Birthday released in April 2019.

File:Memorial for the victims of the sinking of the MV Sewol 13.JPG, where most of the victims were from]]

File:Memorial for the victims of the sinking of the MV Sewol 47.JPG

In addition to reaction against the actions of Sewol,{{cite news |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/18/2014041801508.html|title=Ferry Captain's Selfishness Raises Larger Questions|work=The Chosun Ilbo |date=18 April 2014}} there has been a much wider political reaction to the disaster. Criticism has ranged from anger at the lax regulatory environment, which contributed to the safety violations that sunk Sewol,{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/tragic-ferry-sewol-repeatedly-overloaded-report-article-1.1779217|title=Tragic ferry Sewol repeatedly overloaded: report |work=Daily News|location=New York |date=4 May 2014}} to anger about the rescue operations,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27092751|title=South Korea ferry disaster: Families' anger erupts|work=BBC News |date=20 April 2014}} to anger at President Park, whose approval ratings fell from a high of 71 percent before the disaster to "the 40 percent range" weeks afterwards.{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/south-korea-ferry-disaster-distrust-anger-over-presidents-actions-20140502|title=South Korea ferry disaster: Distrust, anger over President's actions|work=The Straits Times |date=2 May 2014}}

Political reaction to the sinking was intensified by a series of events. A prominent South Korean politician from the ruling Saenuri Party, Chung Mong-joon, was forced to apologize when his son wrote a controversial Facebook post attacking the public for criticizing Park's government over the disaster.{{cite news |url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/140421/ruling-party-lawmaker-apologizes-over-sons-facebook-posting|title=Ruling party lawmaker apologizes over son's Facebook posting|agency=Yonhap News Agency |date=21 April 2014}} Many parents of the victims expressed deep anger at the government, ranging from reportedly berating South Korean Prime Minister Jung Hong-won,{{cite news |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140417000784|title=Prime Minister berated by families of Sewol victims|work=The Korea Herald|date=18 April 2014}} to shouting at President Park,{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/south-korea-ferry-disaster/grieving-parents-jeer-south-koreas-president-ferry-memorial-n93246|title=Grieving Parents Jeer South Korea's President at Ferry Memorial|publisher=NBC News|date=30 April 2014}} to staging protests at the Blue House, partly inflamed by a reported remark by a senior news editor at the government-funded Korean Broadcasting System that the number of dead was "not many, compared with the number of people killed in traffic crashes each year."{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10818639/South-Korea-ferry-victims-parents-protest-at-presidential-palace.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10818639/South-Korea-ferry-victims-parents-protest-at-presidential-palace.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=South Korea ferry victims' parents protest at presidential palace|work=The Telegraph|date=9 May 2014}}{{cbignore}}

US President Barack Obama sent his condolences and assured that the United States would help in the search for survivors, and during a state visit to South Korea presented a magnolia tree from the White House to Danwon High School.{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/25/obama-offers-condolences-white-house-magnolia-tree/ |title=Obama offers condolences, White House magnolia tree to South Korea |work=The Washington Times |date=25 April 2014 |access-date=18 May 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/04/17/statement-president-tragic-ferry-sinking-coast-republic-korea |work=whitehouse.gov |title=Statement by the President on the Tragic Ferry Sinking Off the Coast of the Republic of Korea |via=National Archives |date=17 April 2014}} Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered sympathy to the victims.{{cite news|title=Japan PM offers sympathy to South Korea ferry disaster victims|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/south-korea-ferry-sinking/story/japan-pm-offers-sympathy-south-korea-ferry-disaster-vi|date=17 April 2014}} Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, as well as his deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, sent their condolences to Yun Byung-se, South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Kwon Young |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/17/0200000000AKR20140417197800084.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 베트남 "인명피해에 깊은 애도" | work = Yonhap News |date=17 April 2014 |access-date=17 April 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Ferry capsizing: Vietnam, "Deep condolences over the lives lost"}} Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong{{cite news|title=PM Lee sends condolences to President Park on South Korea ferry disaster|work=The Straits Times|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/south-korea-ferry-sinking/story/pm-lee-sends-condolences-president-park-south-korea--0 |access-date=17 April 2014}} sent messages of condolences to Park, as did Chinese President Xi Jinping.{{cite news |script-title=zh:习近平就韩国客轮沉没事故向韩国总统致慰问电|agency=Xinhua News Agency|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-04/17/c_1110291453.htm |date=17 April 2014|access-date=17 April 2014 | language = zh-hans}}{{cite news |url=http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1148345.shtml |title=Xi Jinping Sends Message of Condolences to ROK President over Accident of the Sinking of the ROK Passenger Ship |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China |date= 17 April 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014}} On 23 April, the North Korean government sent condolences.{{cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Michael |last2=Jiang |first2=Steven |last3=Stevens |first3=Andrew |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/23/world/asia/south-korea-ship-sinking/ |title=South Korean authorities search ferry owner's offices as probe widens |publisher=CNN|date=1 May 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014}} On 24 April, Pope Francis expressed his condolences for the loss of so many lives.{{cite web |title=Pope expresses hope for a "moral rebirth" in South Korea |date=26 April 2014 |publisher=The Hankyoreh |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/634635.html}}

On 27 April, Prime Minister Jung Hong-won accepted responsibility for the disaster and announced his resignation.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/27/world/asia/south-korea-ship-sinking/ |title=South Korean prime minister resigns over ferry disaster response|publisher=CNN|date=27 April 2014}} Two days later, President Park indirectly apologized for the government's response to the sinking.{{cite news|title=South Korean president apologizes for response to ferry sinking|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/29/world/asia/south-korea-ferry-sinking/ |publisher=CNN|date=29 April 2014}}{{cite web |title= Editorial: What we really need is a "remodeling of the President" | work=The Hankyoreh |date= 30 April 2014 |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/635155.html | quote = As expected, Park opted to apologize indirectly, at a Cabinet meeting, rather than facing the public directly.}}{{cite web |title= President's apology |date=29 April 2014 | work=The Korea Times |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2014/04/202_156357.html |quote= but not directly to the people, but in indirect ways like remarks in meetings with her aides.}} On 18 May, the BBC reported that Park Geun-hye announced plans to break up the KCG after it had failed to respond well during the disaster.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27465378#TWEET1132272 |title=BBC News – South Korea to break up coastguard after ferry disaster |publisher=BBC |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=21 May 2014}} According to Park, "investigation and information roles will be transferred to the Korean police while the rescue and salvage operation and ocean security roles will be transferred to the Department for National SafetyNot to be confused with the Korean Ministry of Security and Public Administration which will be newly established."{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/18/world/asia/south-korea-coast-guard/ |title=South Korean president dismantles coast guard after ferry disaster |publisher=CNN.com |date=18 May 2014 |access-date=6 June 2014}}

File:Memorial place of the MV Sewol on Gwanghwamun Plaza in 2018 - 2.jpg

File:Memorial place of the MV Sewol on Gwanghwamun Plaza in 2018 - 1.jpg

On 17 April, a representative of Cheonghaejin Marine apologized for the incident.{{cite news | archive-date = 18 April 2014 |url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/17/0200000000AKR20140417195451065.HTML | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418010737/http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2014/04/17/0200000000AKR20140417195451065.HTML |script-title=ko:<여객선침몰> 청해진해운 김한식 대표 "죽을 죄 졌습니다"(종합) | work = Yonhap News | date= 17 April 2014 | access-date= 18 April 2014 | language = ko |trans-title=Ferry capsizing: Representative of Cheonghaejin Marine Company, Kim HanSik, "I committed a crime worthy of death" | type = compiled}} The chairman and CEO of the KR, Chon Young-Kee, resigned on 28 April, following raids on its offices by South Korean prosecutors.{{cite news |last=Howard|first=Gary|title=KR chairman and ceo Chon Young-kee resigns over Sewol|url=http://www.seatrade-global.com/news/asia/kr-chairman-and-ceo-resigns-over-sewol.html|access-date=2 May 2014 | newspaper =Seatrade Global |date=28 April 2014}}

On 18 April, the rescued vice principal of Danwon High School, Kang Min-kyu, 52, committed suicide by hanging himself.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/19/world/asia/south-korea-grieving-parents/ |title=South Korean ferry victims' kin ask, 'How are we going to live now?' | publisher = CNN |access-date=24 April 2014}} Kang had organized the field trip that had brought the high school party aboard Sewol and had written in his two-page suicide note, which was found in his wallet by police: "Surviving alone is too painful when 200 lives are unaccounted for ... I take full responsibility."{{cite news|last=Yan|first=Holly|title=Police: Arrest warrant issued for captain, 2 crew members of sunken S. Korea ferry|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/18/world/asia/south-korea-ship-sinking/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|access-date=18 April 2014|publisher=CNN|date=18 April 2014|author2=Paula Hancocks}}{{cite news|date=3 March 2016|title=Sewol vice principal's suicide ruled not 'honorable death'|work=The Korea Herald|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160303000908|access-date=2 May 2021}} The note ended with a request that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered over the site of the accident "that I might be a teacher in heaven to those kids whose bodies have not been found."{{cite news|script-title=ko:단원고등학교 교감 자살 "저승에서도 선생을 할까"|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/04/19/2014041900486.html | access-date = 19 April 2014| newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo|date=19 April 2014}}

On 22 April, an internet user made a post encouraging others to take part in a yellow ribbon campaign on KakaoTalk. The image accompanying the post had a caption stating, "One small movement, big miracle."{{cite news |url=http://mbn.mk.co.kr/pages/news/newsView.php?category=mbn00009&news_seq_no=1761253 |script-title=ko:노란리본달기 캠페인 "하나의 작은 움직임이 큰 기적을"...세월호 구조 염원 |publisher=Maeil Broadcasting Network |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014 |language=ko |trans-title=Wear a yellow ribbon campaign "One small movement [hopefully] for a big miracle"... desire for rescue in the MV Sewol}} Since then, the yellow ribbon has been used to symbolize mourning for the sinking victims.{{cite news |last=Cheng |first=Jonathan |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/05/05/in-korea-childrens-day-becomes-a-day-of-grief/ |title=Children's Day Becomes Day of Grief |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=5 May 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014}} The ribbons are prominent in social media, sometimes as profile photos,{{cite news |last=Mullen |first=Jethro |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/24/world/asia/south-korea-yellow-ribbons/ |title=Ferry disaster: Yellow ribbons become symbol of hope, solidarity |publisher=CNN|date=24 April 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014}} and were used by celebrities such as Jo Kwon and Hye-rim Park.{{cite news |last=Suh |first=Ye-seul |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140423000980 |title=[Ferry Disaster] Yellow ribbons carry hopes for miracle |work=The Korea Herald |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014}} In 2017, the yellow ribbon campaign received renewed media coverage as various K-pop musicians wrote songs with references to the symbol, wore the ribbon during performances, and posted images of the ribbon on their social media sites to commemorate the third anniversary of the disaster.{{cite news|title=Celebrities show their respect for the Sewol ferry tragedy victims|url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/04/celebrities-show-their-respect-for-the-sewol-ferry-tragedy-victims|publisher=allkpop|date=16 April 2017}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=March 2025}}{{cite news|title=(Video) Sewol tribute song released|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170407000369|work=The Korea Herald|date=7 April 2017}}{{cite news |script-title=ko:god, '촛불하나'로 2만관객과 한마음 "세월호 참사 1000일 기억"|url=http://news.jtbc.joins.com/article/article.aspx?news_id=NB11395396|publisher=jTBC|date=9 January 2017|language=ko}}

On 17 April 2015, a day after the first anniversary of the sinking, 4,475 participants holding electronic candles formed the shape of the Sewol ferry at the commemoration event titled 'The Saddest Challenge in the World' in front of Seoul City Hall.{{Cite web|url=https://in.celebrity.yahoo.com/photos/photo-of-the-day-slideshow-slideshow/participants-hold-electronic-candles-form-shape-sewol-ferry-photo-150406514.html|title=Participants hold electronic candles to form the shape of the Sewol ferry|last=Lee|first=Jin-man|date=17 April 2015|website=Yahoo! Celebrity, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619205155/https://in.celebrity.yahoo.com/photos/photo-of-the-day-slideshow-slideshow/participants-hold-electronic-candles-form-shape-sewol-ferry-photo-150406514.html|archive-date=19 June 2015|access-date=5 February 2018}}

{{cite web|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/687413.html |title=[Photo] Guinness record-setting candlelight vigil : National : News: The Hankyoreh |publisher=The Hankyoreh |date=18 April 2015 |access-date=24 March 2017}} The event continues to be memorialized by Korean students in school ceremonies.{{Cite news|url=http://www.domin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1193616#09gT |script-title=ko:전주신흥고등학교 학생회 세월호 참사 4주기 추모 행사|date=19 April 2018|work=전북도민일보|access-date=18 October 2018|language=ko}}{{Cite web|url=https://cafe.naver.com/ilgotogether |script-title=ko:광주일고 3학년 English Together(2018)|website=café.naver.com|language=ko|access-date=18 October 2018}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=March 2025}}

Amid growing public frustration over the government's disorganized and ineffective response to the disaster, numerous civilians mobilized to assist in the rescue and recovery operations, and many rescues were conducted by civilians rather than official state agencies.{{Cite book |last=Nam |first=Taehyun |title=Challenges of Modernization and Governance in South Korea: The Sinking of the Sewol and Its Causes |date=August 2017 |year=2017}}{{Cite book |last=Yi |first=Seung-jun |title=In the Absence [Documentary] |date=November 9, 2018 |publisher=416 Documenting Group; Field of Vision (II); First Look Media; Korea Communications Agency. }} Civilian divers, in particular, played a significant role, with some demonstrating greater skill and readiness than official rescue personnel. One such figure was Lee Jong-in, head of Alpha Diving Corp., who advocated the use of a "diving bell" to facilitate longer and safer underwater operations.{{Cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Sang-ho |title=Diving Bell: The Truth Shall Not Sink With Sewol [Documentary] |last2=Ahn |first2=Hae-ryong |date=October 5, 2014 |publisher=Cinema Dall }} Although the equipment had the potential to improve rescue efficiency, Lee's proposal was repeatedly obstructed by government agencies, which refused to incorporate civilian input into the official efforts. His involvement became a subject of public controversy after mainstream media outlets portrayed him as an opportunist, a narrative later criticized for diverting attention from state failures.{{Cite news |last=Borowiec |first=Steven |date=October 8, 2014 |title=Documentary about Sewol ferry sinking roils South Korea film festival |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-south-korea-ferry-truth-shall-not-sink-20141011-story.html |access-date=May 27, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}} Despite this, many viewed the civilian-led operations as more effective and sincere than those of the state. The contrast between grassroots initiative and institutional dysfunction became a focal point of national debate, intensifying demands for transparency, accountability, and systemic reform in South Korea's disaster response infrastructure. The psychological burden on civilian volunteers, including divers who later reported trauma and loss of livelihood, further stressed the human cost of the state's inadequate coordination and support.

Kim Gwan-hong, a Sewol diver, died from apparent suicide in June 2016 after he had suffered injuries during search and rescue operations that prevented him from working again as a diver. During a government hearing in 2015, he had testified that painful memories of handling dead bodies from Sewol had haunted him.Borowiec, Steven (July 27, 2016). [https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2016/7/27/a-divers-pain-living-with-the-ghost-of-sewol-tragedy "A diver's pain: Living with the ghost of Sewol tragedy"]. Al Jazeera. Kim expressed disappointment in the government for its negligence towards the volunteers: "Now I urge the government not to seek people's help in any disaster but do it itself."Kim, Bo-eun (June 20, 2016). [https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/11/113_207414.html "Lawmaker seeks gov't support for Sewol divers"]. The Korea Times.

The 4–16 Coalition (translated name) represents some of the Sewol victims' families, and it has encouraged the investigation of the Sewol ferry accident.{{Cite web |script-title=ko:4월16일의약속국민연대 |url=https://416act.net/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=416act.net |language=ko}} The 4–16 Coalition evaluated the results of the investigation of the SDC, pointing out four major issues. First, the investigation of the failed rescue efforts on the day of the disaster was not conducted properly. Second, there were questionable acts committed by the Park administration during the investigation that were widely publicized, such as concealing information, interfering with the investigation of the sinking and rescue, violations of the rights of the victims' families, and illegal interrogations. Representatives from the group noted it was impossible to obtain data from Korea's intelligence agencies (the acting prime minister after Park was removed from office designated Park's activities on the day of the disaster as a matter of "presidential record", making the files unable to be accessed for up to 30 years{{Cite web |title=7 Years After Sewol Ferry Disaster, Bereaved Families Still Urge Government to Reveal the Truth |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/7-years-after-sewol-ferry-disaster-bereaved-families-still-urge-government-to-reveal-the-truth/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}}). Third, the cause of the sinking could not be determined. Fourth, various limitations and problems, including confusion due to lack of communication, were revealed in the investigation process.

On 22 March 2017, the salvage operation began to raise the wreck of Sewol.{{cite web |title=South Korea begins operations to recover sunken Sewol ferry |date=22 March 2017 |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/21/asia/south-korea-sewol-ferry/}} A Chinese consortium, Shanghai Salvage Company, was contracted by the government to carry out the operation.{{Cite news|author=Marex|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/salvage-of-korean-ferry-by-sino-company#gs.zYqwjgY|title=Chinese Company Picked to Salvage Sewol|date=6 September 2017|work=Maritime Executive|access-date=31 January 2018}} The ship was lying on her port side, nearly forty metres below the surface. Diesel and oil were drained from the ship. All the cabins were sealed and a huge fence was erected on the seabed to prevent any wreckage from drifting away. A crane lifted the bow of the ship five degrees so that thirty-three lifting beams could be placed underneath. The salvage crew pumped water out of the ship's ballast tanks and attached air bags to increase the ship's buoyancy. Cables were attached to the lifting beams and strand jacks gradually lifted the ship to thirteen metres below the surface, where she was then attached to a barge.{{Cite journal |last1=Yao |first1=Zong |last2=Wang |first2=Wei-ping |last3=Jiang |first3=Yan |last4=Chen |first4=Shi-hai |date=April 2018 |title=Coupled Responses of Sewol, Twin Barges and Slings During Salvage |journal=China Ocean Engineering |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=226–235 |doi=10.1007/s13344-018-0024-y |issn=0890-5487|doi-access=free |bibcode=2018ChOE...32..226Y }} Sewol was then towed and loaded onto a semi-submersible vessel, Dockwise White Marlin.{{Cite web|url=http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/tugs,-towing-and-salvage/sewol-finally-brought-ashore|title=Sewol finally brought ashore|date=5 May 2017|website=Maritime Journal|access-date=31 January 2018}} She was loaded onto self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) while on the vessel, which then transported her to shore. The vessel docked at Mokpo, where ALE were contracted to unload the ship using the SPMTs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.safety4sea.com/load-in-of-sewol-ferry-completed-in-east-china-sea/|title=Load-in of Sewol ferry completed in East China Sea|date=16 June 2017|work=Safety4Sea|access-date=31 January 2018}} The wreck is located on a Mokpo dock at 34°45'30.69"N 126°21'3.30"E.

At the time of the ship's raising, nine passengers were still unaccounted for. In order of retrieval, the remains of teacher Go Chang-Seok were found at the sinking site after the ship's removal, followed by the remains of Danwon High School students Heo Da-Yun and Cho Eun-Hwa and passenger Lee Young-Sook inside the ship. For most victims at this point, only partial remains were retrieved and DNA testing was used to identify them.{{Cite web|title=Heroic teacher's remains recovered from Sewol|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2017/05/18/socialAffairs/Heroic-teachers-remains-recovered-from-Sewol/3033532.html|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=18 May 2017 |language=en}}{{cite news |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170513000064 |title=Search team identifies missing student's remains in Sewol ferry |newspaper=The Korea Herald |date=14 May 2017}}{{Cite web|date=2017-05-19|title=Remains found in Sewol ferry identified as a student|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170519000612|access-date=2022-02-11|website=The Korea Herald|language=en}}{{cite news |url=https://www.arirang.com/News/News_View.asp?nseq=204861 |title=Remains found in Sewol-ho ferry confirmed as missing passenger Lee |publisher=Arirang News |date=5 June 2017 |access-date=6 June 2017 |archive-date=13 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613033235/http://www.arirang.com/News/News_View.asp?nseq=204861 }}

By the end of the search operations on 19 October 2018, five victims remained missing: Danwon High School students Nam Hyeon-Cheol (16) and Park Yeong-In (16); teacher Yang Seung-Jin (57); and father and son passengers Kwon Jae-Geun (48) and Kwon Hyeok-Gyu (6).{{Cite web|last1=Jung-ho|first1=Bang|title=Final search of Sewol hull complete, with five victims still missing|url=https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/866693.html|access-date=2022-02-11|website=The Hankyoreh}}

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• "[https://web.archive.org/web/20180623194626/http://utc.mit.edu/uploads/HVDE25-38-FP.pdf Teaching Case Study on Korea Ferry Disaster of April 2014]." Year 25 Final Report Grant Number: DTRT13-G-UTC31. New England University Transportation Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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