Sewol Ferry Accident Research Articles

A Systematic Review on Studies School Safety Education in Korea

This study was examined research trends in Korea on school safety education through a systematic literature review method to analyze the tasks and development directions of school safety education. The related literature search was conducted utilizing database from January 1, 2010 to February 1, 2021. By combining school safety-related terms, the final 81 documents were selected through systematic review process of PRISMA. The results showed that the predominant research type on school safety education was the qualitative research (41%). Next research type was quantitative research (33%). It is need to activate quantitative research since it can objectively explain the necessity and direction of school safety education. The research on school safety education has increased rapidly after the Sewol ferry accident. After showing the most activation at 23% in 2017, the research on school safety education declined gradually. The research on school safety education are sensitively linked to social issues such as society's interest in safety and the needs of members of society. It is need to support research reflecting teachers' opinions since there are few studies in which teachers participated.

A Study on the Improvement of Mooring Configuration through Mooring Safety Assessment for Passenger Ship Berth

Most of the domestic car ferries departing from Jeju Port in Korea were replaced through the construction of new ships or the introduction of new used ships starting in 2018 after the Sewol Ferry accident. Amid this trend of ship replacement, the size of passenger ship has also become larger than in the past to increase passenger sales and cargo transportation profits, but the passenger ship berth configuration at Jeju Port have not improved significantly. In this study, the current status of passenger ships at Jeju Port was investigated, and a mooring safety assessment was conducted on car ferries exceeding the design berth capacity of the pier. Risk factors of the target ship were identified through mooring safety assessment. Through the sensitivity analysis of each improvement plan, a plan to improve mooring configuration was proposed and its effect was confirmed. As a result, the in case of Arion Jeju which is berthed at No. 2 pier, improvement plan scenario case 1 to 4 from the operator’s perspective did not secure the mooring safety due to the problem of exceeding maximum traction force with the size of the mooring post. However in case of scenario case 5 of the improvement plan through the additional installation of High Height Bitt, it was analyzed that a load of about 23% or less of the breaking strength of all lines acts on the mooring line and the load of 44% or less of the maximum traction force of the mooring post acts that the mooring safety was evaluated to be secured. The results of this study are expected to be used as reference materials for the establishment of safe passenger ship berth mooring configuration and the development of guidelines for mooring a car ferry.

Comparative Analysis of the Psychosocial Symptoms and Experiences of Bereaved Parents and Parents of Children Who Survived the Sewol Ferry Accident After 5 Years: A Qualitative Interview Study.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the psychosocial symptoms and experiences of bereaved parents of victims and parents of survivors of the Sewol Ferry accident five years after the accident.MethodsIn-depth interviews of 186 bereaved parents of victims or survivors of the Sewol Ferry accident were conducted. We elicited and categorized meaning units relevant to the psychological, cognitive, and physical traits of the participants from these interviews. Differences in responses between bereaved parents and survivors’ parents and between genders were examined using frequency analyses and χ2 tests.ResultsData were organized under seven headings: observed attitude and impression of participants, difficulties due to mental health problems, difficulties due to physical pain, difficulties in relationships, negative changes following the incident, positive changes following the incident, and help needed. Within these headings, 27 themes, 60 sub-themes, and 80 meaning units were elicited.ConclusionThis study explored the psychiatric, physical, and relational problems reported by bereaved parents and those of survivors as well as major changes in their personal and social lives after the Sewol Ferry accident. Differences in responses according to gender were also identified. The results from this study could inform and facilitate the implementation of intervention measures, such as long-term psychological evaluation, to bereaved parents of victims or survivors of disasters.

Exploring the factors associated with indirect trauma caused by a human-made disaster on the general population: A community study five years after the Sewol ferry incident

Disasters lead to mental health problems such as depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that affect the severity of indirect trauma based on the characteristics of human-made disasters. We also analyzed the degree of indirect trauma by region by comparing the disaster site and the control community. The severity of indirect trauma caused by the Sewol ferry incident, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms was assessed in the survey. Gender (female), the presence of children, and a high level of monthly income were assessed as risk factors for increasing the severity of indirect trauma. The severity of indirect trauma was higher in the control community that was not involved in the Sewol ferry accident. We confirmed that the risk factors and protection factors are determined by the characteristics of the disaster and the victim in the case of a human-made disaster. To overcome indirect trauma, it is also necessary to provide social support and information for mental health recovery to those who indirectly encounter the disaster.

Factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder among bereaved family members and surviving students two and half years after the Sewol ferry accident in South Korea

BackgroundThe Sewol ferry accident was a human-made disaster that caused the death of 250 high school students on board the ferry. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most serious mental health sequela among those exposed to disasters. Therefore this study assessed the PTSD symptoms among bereaved family members and surviving students after the disaster, along with associated risk factors. MethodsBereaved family members (N = 80) and surviving students (N = 48) of the disaster were assessed by self-reported questionnaires 2.5 years after the disaster. Sociodemographic and psychological variables (i.e., PTSD, depression, embitterment, rumination, and others) were obtained. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with PTSD symptoms. ResultsSixty-seven (83.8%) of the bereaved family members and three (6.3%) of the surviving students were suffering from probable PTSD. Depression and embitterment were associated with PTSD symptoms in both groups. Social support and meaning in life were related to PTSD symptoms only in the surviving students, while intrusive rumination and posttraumatic growth were related to PTSD symptoms only in the bereaved family members. ConclusionsThese findings may help identify high-risk groups for PTSD and aid the development of psychological interventions to ameliorate PTSD symptoms of those affected by disasters.

A Study on the Safe and Educational Plans of Field Experience Learning Such As School Trip: A Study on the Safety Manual for Field Experience Learning in Sejong City Office of Education

Although field experience learning such as school trips is emphasized at the school site through the 2015 revised curriculum, it often ends with customary events due to problems such as safety issues. Accordingly, this study attempted to explore alternatives to that. A lot of accidents, such as the Sewol ferry accident in 2014, occurred during the field experience study operation. Therefore, by analyzing the “Safe and Educational Operation Manual of Field Experience Learning such as School Trips” of the Sejong City Office of Education, we explored student safety measures that ensure the safety of field experience learning. As a result, in order to ensure the safety of field-experience learning, it is necessary to additionally allocate experts in charge of experiential learning to the (South and North) School Support Center to perform school support work. Also, field experience learning should be operated in a small-scale and tema-type to proceed safely and educationally. Finally, local governments and 17 provincial superintendents' councils should work together to develop and disseminate field experience learning programs.

Four studies, two methods, one accident – An examination of the reliability and validity of Accimap and STAMP for accident analysis

The validity and reliability of human factors and safety science methods are some of the important criteria for judging their appropriateness and utility for accident analysis, however these are rarely assessed. The aim of this study is to take a closer look at the validity and reliability of two systemic accident analysis methods (Accimap and STAMP) by comparing the results of four studies which analysed the same accident (the South Korea Sewol Ferry accident) using two methods. Studies 1 and 2 used Accimap whilst Studies 3 and 4 applied STAMP. The four studies were compared in terms of analysis procedure taken, level of detail, causal factors identified, and the recommendations for improvements suggested by the methods. The results of the causal factor comparison indicate that the reliability (degree of overlap of causal factors identified from the same method, i.e. inter-analyst overlap) of STAMP (65%) is higher than Accimap (38%). The validity (degree of overlap of causal factors identified from two different methods) is as low as 8%. The comparison of recommendations indicates that STAMP-based analyses produce a wider range of recommendations across multiple system levels while Accimap-based analyses tend to focus on whole system-related recommendations. These findings suggest that the use of a more structured method like STAMP can help produce a more reliable accident analysis results.

Bereaved families are still embittered after the Sewol ferry accident in Korea: A follow-up study 18 and 30 months after the disaster

IntroductionThe Sewol ferry accident that occurred in April 2014 was one of the most tragic human-made disasters in Korean history. Due to the deaths of hundreds of children, bereaved families likely feel embittered; however, there is little extant research documenting embitterment among those who experienced the disaster. Consequently, we investigated bereaved family members' embitterment and other psychiatric symptoms 18months and 30months after the disaster. MethodsData from a cross-sectional survey were obtained 18months (Time 1) and 30months (Time 2) after the disaster. We ascertained socio-demographic variables and variables obtained from a self-reporting questionnaire (i.e., depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, complicated grief, and embitterment) among 56 bereaved family members. ResultsBereaved families showed substantial embitterment at Time 1 (64.3%), which increased at Time 2 (76.8%, t=1.761, p=0.084). The participants who displayed increased embitterment at Time 2 also increased in anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and complicated grief (but not depression). Furthermore, participants who displayed decreased embitterment at Time 2 also decreased in all other psychiatric symptoms. (time×group interaction in depression (F 0.644, p=0.426), anxiety (F 4.970, p=0.030), PTSD (F 10.699, p=0.002), and complicated grief (F 8.389, p=0.005)). ConclusionsEmbitterment of bereaved families had not ceased after 18months and even increased 1year later. Additionally, as embitterment increased, many other psychiatric symptoms also increased, and vice versa. Our results suggest that embitterment is associated or can even influence other psychiatric symptoms; therefore, embitterment should be examined after disasters.

Embitterment and bereavement: The Sewol ferry accident example.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 261 high school students on a field trip died in the sinking of the Sewol ferry. The bereaved family of the Sewol ferry accident experienced one of the most painful traumatic losses such as the sudden death of one's child through an accident. This article reviewed and discussed embitterment related to traumatic loss through the example of the Sewol ferry accident. Embitterment-related issues and problems in coping with the accident that is caused by societal factors were described. In addition, embitterment-related findings of several previous studies based on bereaved families' mental health cohort study were reviewed. Traumatic loss of the human-made ferry accident was accompanied with feelings of being cheated, injustice, incompetence, wrongdoing by a perpetrator, and the destruction of one's belief and value system, causing severe embitterment. Embitterment was related to other mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and complicated grief. Social support and positive individual resource including optimism and wisdom can be helpful for recovery from posttraumatic embitterment. The goal of grief is to remember the decedent, understand the changes created by the loss, and determine how to reinvest in life. Embitterment may disturb the process of grief. Without the management of the embitterment, true grief may not be possible. The breakdown of value systems and severe embitterment should get more attention in future research. (PsycINFO Database Record

Comparative Analysis of Disaster Prevention in Korea and China: Based on Cases of Accidents in Marine Vessels

The purpose of this research is to identify problems of and suggest some plans for improving the disaster prevention methods of marine vessel accidents between Korea and China. For accomplishing the research goal, we conducted comparative analysis of two cases respectively in each country. The one is Sewol ferry accident in South Korea, 2014 and the other is Eastern Star ferry accident in China, 2015. First, the disaster management systems of two countries such as Korea and China, were analyzed from two aspects of theory and legal system. After that, this research put forward three common problems existed in the disaster prevention stage. The next, some suggestions for improvement are put forward from three aspects of government department, shipping company, and crews.

Attachment styles, grief responses, and the moderating role of coping strategies in parents bereaved by the Sewol ferry accident

ABSTRACTBackground: Previous studies on the influence of different types of attachment on grief responses have yielded contradictory outcomes. Little research has been conducted to identify the psychological processes that moderate the relationship between attachment representations and patterns of grief in disaster-related grief.Objective: The present study examines the effects of different attachment types on the grief responses of parents bereaved by loss of a child in a ferry accident, along with the moderating role of coping strategies.Methods: Bereaved parents (n = 81) completed self-report questionnaires evaluating attachment, coping strategies, complicated grief, and shame/guilt. We performed correlational analyses to examine the associations among variables. We also conducted hierarchical regression analyses and simple slope analyses to examine the moderation effects of coping strategies.Results: Anxious attachment was associated with severe shame/guilt, and avoidant attachment correlated with complicated grief. Anxious attachment was positively associated with all types of coping strategies, and avoidant attachment was negatively related to problem- and emotion-focused coping. The use of problem-focused coping strategies was a significant moderator of the relationship between the avoidant attachment dimension and shame/guilt. Avoidant attachment had a significant effect on shame/guilt in groups with a high level of problem-focused coping. In contrast, none of the coping strategies significantly moderated the relationship between anxious attachment and grief response.Conclusions: The results suggest that people with highly avoidant attachment might be overwhelmed by shame and guilt when they try to use problem-focused coping strategies. This finding suggests that grief interventions should be organized with consideration of individual differences in attachment representations.

Bureaucratic Accountability and Disaster Response: Why Did the Korea Coast Guard Fail in Its Rescue Mission During the Sewol Ferry Accident?

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.

Social Network Analysis on Cooperation Network among Disaster Relief Organizations in Korea - Focused on the Sewol Ferry Disaster -

본 연구는 세월호 참사를 중심으로 재난심리지원을 위한 협력네트워크의 구조와 특성을 분석하고자 하였다. 국가적 규모의 재난 시 단일 기관의 대응만으로는 한계가 있으며, 다양한 유관 기관들이 유기적으로 협력하여 통합적인 재난심리지원 활동을 수행할 필요가 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 사고 이후 재난심리지원 활동에 참여한 정부, 지역사회 및 민간 기관을 대상으로 정보 및 자료 교환, 재정및 물적자원 교환, 인적자원 교환, 공동사업 수행 및 공동행사 참여에 대한 관계데이터를 수집하고 사회네트워크분석(SNA)을 적용하여 협력네트워크의 특성을 분석하였다. 그 결과, 38개의 기관들이 전반적으로 낮은 협력관계를 맺고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 구체적으로, 인적자원 측면에서 기관 간협력의 정도나 효율성이 가장 낮은 수준으로 나타났고 이에 비해 정보/ 자료 측면에서의 협력은 상대적으로 활발하게 이루어진 것으로 나타났다. 중심성 분석 결과, ‘안산시 온마음센터’가 재난심 리지원 네트워크에서 가장 중추적인 역할을 하였으며, 이외의 주요 기관들은 주로 공공 부문에 집중 되어 있으며 민간 혹은 지역사회 기관의 기능은 다소 제한되어 있는 것으로 나타났다.The Sewol Ferry accident in 2014 had a significant impact on Korean society. In response to the national-scale disaster, there was a limit to what a single institution can do to facilitate an effective recovery of the society. This study aims to analyze the cooperative relations of 38 organizations which have participated in psychosocial support activities after the Sewol Ferry accident. The results from the social network analysis (SNA) showed that cooperative relationships among those institutions were generally low. Specifically, the degree of cooperation among the institutions was found to be lowest for human resources, but relatively high with respect to information/data transfer. The results from the centrality analysis indicated that ‘Ansan Mental Health Trauma Center’ played the most central role in disaster support network. In addition, the major players in this network were mainly public institutions, while private agencies or local community organizations were somewhat limited in their ability to mobilize support. Based on the findings, the implications on disaster support systems were discussed.

THE LEGACIES OF STATE CORPORATISM IN KOREA: REGULATORY CAPTURE IN THE SEWOL FERRY TRAGEDY

AbstractRegarding the causes of the Sewol ferry accident that claimed 304 lives in April 2014, some scholars have blamed neoliberal reforms such as deregulation and privatization for the safety regulatory failure. Others have highlighted the role of industry influence and corruption. Our analysis shows that regulatory capture was the crucial causal factor; moreover, this capture was institutionalized from the state-corporatist arrangements of the authoritarian period rather than reflecting new arrangements under the democratic era or corruption per se. The delegation of the critical safety regulation enforcement to the shipping industry association was not introduced as a neoliberal reform but in the context of state corporatism of the Park Chung-hee regime. Democratic governments continued to protect the monopoly of the lucrative Incheon–Jeju ferry business, contrary to neoliberal logic. The legacies of state corporatism persist despite post-financial crisis reform.

The Legacies of State Corporatism in Korea: Regulatory Capture in the Sewol Ferry Tragedy

Regarding the causes of the Sewol ferry accident that claimed 304 lives in April 2014, some scholars have blamed neoliberal reforms such as deregulation and privatization for the safety regulatory failure. Others have highlighted the role of industry influence and corruption. Our analysis shows that regulatory capture was the crucial causal factor; moreover, this capture was institutionalized from the state-corporatist arrangements of the authoritarian period rather than reflecting new arrangements under the democratic era or corruption per se. The delegation of the critical safety regulation enforcement to the shipping industry association was not introduced as a neoliberal reform but in the context of state corporatism of the Park Chung-hee regime. Democratic governments continued to protect the monopoly of the lucrative Incheon-Jeju ferry business, contrary to neoliberal logic. The legacies of state corporatism persist despite post-financial crisis reform.

Effects of Mental Health Support on the Grief of Bereaved People Caused by Sewol Ferry Accident.

Few studies have assessed the overall effects of multi-centered, complicated mental health support on the grief process. This study investigated the broader influence of mental health support provided practically to the bereaved family on the severity of complicated grief. Ninety-three bereaved family members of the Sewol ferry accident were recruited. Severity of complicated grief, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder was assessed through self-reporting questionnaire, inventory of complicated grief (ICG), PTSD Check List-5 (PCL-5) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We also included demographic, socioeconomic, health-related variables, and Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ), which affect the ICG score. Participants were divided into 4 groups based on the experience of psychotherapy or psychiatry clinic service before the accident and mental health support after the disaster. In univariate analysis, these 4 groups showed a significant difference in the mean ICG score (P = 0.020). Participants who received mental health support only after the Sewol ferry accident (group 2) showed a lower mean ICG score than those who received neither psychotherapy or psychiatry clinic service before the disaster nor mental health support after the accident (group 4). There was no significant correlation between the ICG score and other variables except for subjective health status measured 1 month after the disaster (P = 0.005). There was no significant difference in PCL-5 (P = 0.140) and PHQ-9 scores (P = 0.603) among groups, respectively. In conclusion, mental health support significantly reduced the severity of grief only in those participants who had not received any psychotherapy or psychiatry clinic service before the accident.

Experiences Providing Medical Assistance during the Sewol Ferry Disaster Using Traditional Korean Medicine.

Background This study aimed to investigate medical records using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in Sewol Ferry disaster in 2014 and further explore the possible role of traditional medicine in disaster situation. Methods After Sewol Ferry accident, 3 on-site tents for TKM assistance by the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) in Jindo area were installed. The AKOM mobilized volunteer TKM doctors and assistants and dispatched each on-site tent in three shifts within 24 hours. Anyone could use on-site tent without restriction and TKM treatments including herb medicine were administered individually. Results The total of 1,860 patients were treated during the periods except for medical assistance on the barge. Most patients were diagnosed in musculoskeletal diseases (66.4%) and respiratory diseases (7.4%) and circulatory diseases (8.4%) followed. The most frequently used herbal medicines were Shuanghe decoction (80 days), Su He Xiang Wan (288 pills), and Wuji powder (73 days). Conclusions TKM in medical assistance can be helpful to rescue worker or group life people in open shelter when national disasters occur. Therefore, it is important to construct a rapid respond system using TKM resources based on experience.

Unresolved Bereavement and Other Mental Health Problems in Parents of the Sewol Ferry Accident after 18 Months.

ObjectiveThis study examined the overall mental health consequences of the bereaved parents after the Sewol ferry accident.MethodsEighty-four bereaved parents participated in the study. Self-report scales assessing the severity of psychiatric symptoms and other related psychosomatic problems were used at 18 months following the accident. Univariate descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed to report the prevalence, severity, and correlates of psychiatric symptoms.Results94% of the participants appeared to suffer from complicated grief based on scores on the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG). Half of the participants were categorized as having severe depression and 70.2% reported clinically significant post-traumatic symptoms according to scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and PTSD Check List-5 (PCL-5). No significant differences by gender were observed in the severity of psychiatric symptoms. A higher educational level was associated with more severe psychiatric symptoms in fathers.ConclusionThe loss of a child due to a disaster caused by human error may continue to have a substantial impact on parental mental health at 18 months after the event. A longitudinal study following parents' mental health state would be necessary to investigate the long-term effects of the traumatic experience in the future.

The territorialization of memory: the making of place of memory for Sewol Ferry accident

The territorialization of memory: the making of place of memory for Sewol Ferry accident

텍스트의 고난과 현실적 고통의 만남을 통한 비판적 프로네시스의 생성: 리쾨르의 형상화 개념을 통한 욥의 ‘내러티브’와 세월호 ‘스토리’의 만남

텍스트의 고난과 현실적 고통의 만남을 통한 비판적 프로네시스의 생성: 리쾨르의 형상화 개념을 통한 욥의 ‘내러티브’와 세월호 ‘스토리’의 만남