ITF: Sewol Captain’s Sentence Excessive

The 36 year sentence handed down to Captain Lee Joon-Seok is “excessive and unjust”, David Heindel,  seafarers’ section chair of International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) said today.

Captain of Sewol ferry Joon-Seok was charged with homicide by the prosecutors asking for death penalty, however the judges of the Gwangju District Court acquitted him Tuesday on that charge, proclaiming him guilty of gross negligence.

“The ITF believes that the judgment is based more on emotion and the need to find someone to blame than justice,” he stated. “The sentencing of the captain and the other seafarers is too severe and does not take into account the actions or lack of actions by others in the industry.”

He added that the ITF seafarers’ section committee will meet next week in London to consider an “appropriate ongoing response to this tragic matter.”

Press Release