SEOUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye vowed Friday to make a great national reform to prevent recurrence of such accidents as the ferry sinking disaster.
The accident left more than 300 people, mostly high school students, dead or missing.
A group of 17 people, who represent families of the ferry sinking victims, visited the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae Friday afternoon after Park invited them to listen to their opinions before announcing a statement to the nation early next week. "I'd like to offer words of sincere consolation to (the families) who are suffering unspeakable sorrow," Park said to the visiting family representatives. "I apologize once again for the government's insufficient response."
The government will put right the country's safety system from the root and the task will be carried out with the thought in mind that it will be a great national renovation, Park said.
Park noted that putting the country right from the base will not make the pitiable sacrifices wasted, saying that it will be more important than anything else to listen to opinions from the bereaved families before reforming the safety system and officialdom.
The 6,825-ton ferry Sewol capsized and sank off Jindo Island, a southwestern tip of South Korea, on April 16. On the 31st day into search, 284 people have been confirmed dead, leaving 20 others still missing. No survivors have been reported since 172 people were saved from the sea and ship the day the ship sank.
Park was originally expected to announce a national statement, including ways to reform the bureaucratic society and the disaster safety system, on Friday, but it was delayed to next week in order to include the opinions of the bereaved families in the statement.
The government has been under public criticism over the lax response to the accident and fumbling at the initial stage of search and rescue operations, which many claimed have contributed to the soaring death toll.
Park is expected to unveil comprehensive measures to renew personnel in the officialdom and ways to establish the tentatively named "National Safety Office" through the statement as early as next Monday.
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