Jin Jongsoon, Song Geoboo
Risk Hazards Crisis Public Policy. 2017 Sep;8(3):220-243. doi: 10.1002/rhc3.12115. Epub 2017 Jun 15.
The Sewol ferry accident, occurring in the ocean in South Korea on April 16, 2014, resulted in the loss of 304 lives. Some argue that one of the primary reasons for such an excessive death toll was because the post-disaster rescue operations led by the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) were neither timely nor efficient and effective. In this study, we attempt to understand whether there was any systemic cause behind such an unsuccessful disaster response on the part of the KCG. In doing so, we analyze the KCG's aptitudes, attitudes, and behaviors vis-à-vis its rescue operations in the broader context of Sewol ferry disaster management, while utilizing the classic theories of bureaucratic accountability. We conclude this research by arguing that the KCG was more concerned about hierarchical, political, and legal accountability than professional accountability in the midst of the accident, and discuss theoretical and practical ramifications of our findings.
2014年4月16日发生在韩国海域的“岁月号”客轮事故导致304人丧生。一些人认为，如此高的死亡人数的主要原因之一是韩国海岸警卫队（KCG）主导的灾后救援行动既不及时，也缺乏效率和成效。在本研究中，我们试图了解韩国海岸警卫队在此次灾难应对中表现不佳是否存在系统性原因。为此，我们在“岁月号”客轮灾难管理的更广泛背景下，分析韩国海岸警卫队在救援行动中的能力、态度和行为，同时运用官僚问责制的经典理论。我们在研究结论中指出，在事故发生时，韩国海岸警卫队更关注层级、政治和法律问责，而非专业问责，并讨论了我们研究结果的理论和实际影响。
