Sewol disaster: President makes ferry pledge as South Korea mourns

A total of 304 people, mostly school students, were killed when the ship - overloaded and illegally redesigned - sank off Jindo island.The disaster triggered nationwide grief and outrage. It led to severe criticism of safety standards and rescue efforts.Divers have recovered all but nine of the bodies. Relatives say the ship must be raised so more remains can be found.The government says salvaging the ship will cost $110m (£74m). But President Park Guen-hye, speaking at a port in Jindo, said she would take "the necessary steps to salvage the ship at the earliest possible date".Memorial ceremonies are being held in some 300 places across the country.The largest takes place in the afternoon at a hall in Ansan city, the home of the students, who were on a school trip. A private ceremony will also take place at their school in the evening.In the morning, Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo was prevented from entering the memorial hall by angry relatives of those who died.

Courtesy: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32297010