[2014 Sewol Incident] Park Geun Hye’s (Lack of) Involvement [1]
This was compiled from a list of news sources, all credited. I merely translated them to share to those who felt - like myself - frustrated, helpless, and grief over the Sewol Incident in 2014. As someone who translated much of the incident on tumblr back in 2014, I felt it best fit to share this, as well. I might divide this up into several segments. This is a brief introduction. I will make more posts depending on length. Please forgive my English, it is not my first language.
The Sewol Incident was definitely a tragedy on a great scale for us Koreans. We were left waiting and hoping for anything to happen. But instead, all we received on hours to days were false information and chaos.
Where was the leader?
Truly a question wondered by many. It was criticized that many could have been saved, if only the president could have been a true leader and come forward to take charge. But at that time, most of us were so grieved over the loss, the shock of the incident, and doing what we could to help that we pushed aside that question.
However this question has now resurfaced, and people are demanding an answer fiercer than ever. I wish not to impose my political stance on this situation (if it can even be called “political” at this point), but it is hard not to do so.
It is undeniable that South Korea’s president, Park Geun Hye, was not present. She showed no leadership, no remorse during or after the incident. The country cried while she stayed silent.
Where was she for the seven hours that children and adults were stuck in the ferry, praying to be saved? Where was she for the seven hours that she possibly could not have been at the scene where her people were dying? Where was she for the seven hours, unquestionably aware of the situation yet doing nothing?
She continues to stay silent, two years after. The families of the children who will never come home from their graduation trip, left in the dark on what exactly happened on April 16th.
Even Park Geun Hye’s chief of staff / secretary general (I’m not sure english word, sorry) states that he does not know where she was. (credit: court hearing at the national assembly, 2014)
< Please tell us where the President was. Was she in her office? >
< I am not aware of her exact location at that time>
< If the chief of staff does not know where she was, who does?>
< It is not required that the chief of staff knows the everyday whereabouts of the president>
< It is noted that the President did not have any schedule on that day. You’re saying that she wasn’t in her office, correct?>
<No, that’s not what I meant>
The day of the sewol incident, the President had simply vanished. Where was she that even the chief of staff was not aware of her location?
The seven hours has been determined by the following timeline (source: News tapa news report, 2014. 7. 29) :
Time of Accident = 8:48
The President received the written report = 10:00
Time of the ferry sunk = 11:18
Chief of staff’s advisory meeting = 16:11
President’s speech on incident = 17:10
It has been confirmed that the President did not go to the president’s bunker, nor the chief of staff’s. No one seems to have had an answer, and the president refuses to state where she was. Nor her advisors.
“President Park, even during the day of the Sewol Incident, I remember her watching television”
“On the day of the incident, I remember her watching the TV. She would also look out the window to see the scenery several times.”
The theories of her late response to the incident has been pinned on a few major ones at the moment.
1. That she had called on her hair salonist to do her hair for several hours before appearing on camera later that evening.
2. Or that she had gone to get plastic surgery (face lift) and thus was unconscious.
3. (listed above) she watched TV for 7 hours (unlikely)
Can you believe this sort of action when her people are drowning?
I simply wished to share this information. I will expand on the arguments supporting the theories in another post. I’m sure it is probably out in American news, however I am not sure as I do not live in North America anymore. The President’s scandal has been the major news for weeks and protests have been occurring weekly. What is most upsetting is that even now, she refuses to do right and admit her faults, in extension meaning that she feels no remorse, that she did not do any wrong, and that she is a victim. When millions protest for her to step down, she remained silent.
This is not a President for the people, and while she had most fooled for years, it is a relief it has been revealed now.
i’m so, so, so, sorry for being inactive the past basically 2 years... i have been a mess because of school. i updated the blog with a new theme and hopefully will be able to keep being active.
