Seoul: Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday called for strengthening public safety measures as the nation marks the 11th anniversary of its worst-ever maritime disaster.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in a Facebook post, Lee mourned the victims of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which claimed the lives of 304 on board, mostly high school students on a school field trip, when the overloaded 6,800-ton ship sank off the southwestern coast.
Lee expressed concerns over the regression in the state's responsibility to protect citizens' lives and safety over the past three years. He urged that as the 11th spring since the disaster approaches, the state must uphold its responsibility to safeguard public safety.
The former Democratic Party leader emphasized the importance of prioritizing people's safety and lives over any other interests. He called for a commitment to making the country a place where no cost or interest supersedes public safety.
Lee is widely considered the front-runner for the June 3 presidential election, following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's removal from office this month over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.