BBC Online :
South Korea plans to break up its coastguard in the wake of the ferry disaster in which more than 300 people died, says President Park Geun-hye.
In a televised address, Ms Park apologised formally for the sinking.
A new safety agency would handle rescue duties, with investigative functions passing to the police, she said.
The Sewol ferry disaster on 16 April killed 286 passengers, most of whom were high school students. Another 18 are still missing.
“The ultimate responsibility of the poor response to this accident lies with me,” Ms Park said.
She said the coastguard had “failed to fulfil its original duties” and “had it actively carried out rescue efforts immediately after the accident”, more lives could have been saved.
Ms Park added that in its current form, the coastguard would be unable to prevent another large-scale disaster.
“The coastguard continued to get bigger in size but did not have enough personnel and budget allocated for maritime safety, and training for rescue was very much insufficient,” she said, according to Reuters. Ms Park’s office told agencies that her plans had to be approved by the National Assembly, in which her Saenuri party maintains a majority.
The planned disbanding of the coastguard is one of several reforms the South Korean leader announced on Monday.
