The Korean Ministry Of Oceans And Fisheries Receives 1,297 Applications For Compensation Following The Tragic MV Sewol Disaster That Reportedly Killed 304 People In April 2014

by Czarelli Tuason / Oct 22, 2015 11:23 PM EDT

Families of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster in tears as they visit the site of the accident. (Photo by Ed Jones - Pool/Getty Images News)

Over two-thirds of the families of victims who died in the tragic MV Sewol disaster in April 16, 2014 have already sent their applications for government compensation, reported The Chosun Ilbo in an article published Oct. 2. This implies that these families no longer have the right to sue the government for the devastating event that reportedly caused the death of 304 passengers and crew members.

Those families of the 96 victims who did not apply for government compensation are rightfully capable of filing a law suit against the state and MV Sewol operator, Chonghaejin Marine.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 1,297 applications were already received from the victims' families, as well as applications for the package from 89 percent of the 157 survivors.

The government compensation will entitle each family and survivors 420 million won per Danwon High School student, 760 million won per Danwon High School teacher and 350 million won for all other passengers. The survivors and the families of those who died also received an additional 300 million won as insurance payouts and consolation pay.

Business News Asia reported on April 1, 2015 in their online publication that the South Korean government's compensation announcement was a strategy to divert the attention of the families from their call for an in-depth and independent investigation.

The MV Sewol was en route from Incheon to Jeju Island when it capsized 2.7 kilometers north of Byeongpungdo. The vessel's chief engineer was allegedly convicted of homicide and sentenced to prison for 30 years, while other crew members were sentenced to between five to 36 years in prison. Yoo Byung Eun, owner of Chonghaejin Marine, was given a warrant of arrest, but was found dead in a field 415 kilometers south of Seoul three months after the disaster.

The government reportedly plans to pay out the compensation to families and survivors by the end of the year.