Park formally apologises over ferry disaster

[SEOUL] South Korean President Park Geun-hye formally apologised yesterday for a ferry disaster last month that killed about 300 passengers, mostly school children, and said she would break up the coast guard because it had failed in its rescue mission.

Ms Park has been hit hard by an angry nation-wide outcry over the government's response to South Korea's worst civilian maritime disaster in 20 years and the seemingly slow and ineffective rescue operation.

Polls show support for Ms Park has dropped by more than 20 points since the April 16 disaster. "I apologise to the nation for the pain and suffering that everyone felt, as the president who should have been responsible for the safety and lives of the people," Ms Park said in a televised national address, her first since the ferry Sewol capsized and sank with 476 passengers and crew on board. At least 286 people were killed and 18 remain missing. Only 172 people were rescued, with the rest presumed to have drowned.