South Koreans mourn on anniversary of ferry disaster

South Korean President Park Geun-hye (3rd L) visits a port in Jindo during the first anniversary of the ferry disaster that killed more than 300 passengers, April 16, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

During her stay in the harbor, Park released a statement to the nation, vowing to rapidly take necessary measures to raise the vessel from the waters as soon as possible.

The salvaging of the vessel has been demanded by the victims' families as they believed it would help get to the bottom of the ferry sinking.

Park, however, failed to mention whether to scrap the enforcement decree, which the family members are strongly demanding to be nullified. She just said that additional investigations would be conducted after the investigative committee is launched.

Meanwhile, Moon Jae-in, chief of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, visited the group memorial altar in Ansan at 8:30 a.m. along with other lawmakers, condoling with the bereaved families.

Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo visited the memorial altar, but he was blocked by the family members from entering the memorial altar as Lee refrained from giving a clear answer to calls for the scrapping of the decree.

On the eve of the first anniversary, a semi-official memorial service was held at the Pengmok Harbor. Yoo Seung-min, floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, failed to join the ceremony as family members of the victims strongly blocked his participation.