Pacific Spirit Marine Institute

Suicides and Despair Resulting From Hebei Spirit Oil Spill. Samsung Heavy Industries apologizes.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Nearly two months after South Korea experienced the worst oil spill in it's history the beaches around the Taean Coast still show the aftermath. Not so easily seen is the aftermath left in the souls of families that made their living there.

More than a million volunteers have braved wretched weather to help in the cleanup. Senior citizens sang as they try to clear the mudflats of nearly frozen oil sludge that has laid waste to the area. One 78 year old woman working in the freezing conditions used to make enough money to support herself and her ailing husband shucking oysters in the same mudflats she is helping to heal. She tells Kim Seong-ryong in the JoongAng Daily she feels devastated and she hopes she can shuck oysters again. Until then she sings as she cleans the mudflats.

It may be years before anyone will shuck oysters in Taean. Just two months ago Taean was a thriving and beautiful tourist destination. 20,000 households operated resorts, restaurants catering to the tourists. 10,000 households made a living from fishing in the area. Now there is nothing left but the spirit of the people. For some the blow of the oil spill was too much for the spirit. Channel NewsAsia is reporting there have been 3 suicides as a result of this horrible disaster.

The government acted swiftly to declare 6 of the affected cities and counties 'special disaster' status paving the way for aid to be distributed faster. Victims are still waiting. One man, a fish seller, set himself on at a during a protest earlier this month and later died. Unless aid comes quickly he may not be the last suicide.

Thousands of people were demanding answers to how they would be justly compensated. About 64 million dollars have been sent to the disaster areas. Half of that money has been raised by the private sector, but it so far has not been distributed to those in need. Reportedly officials cannot agree on how the money should be spent.In the mean time lives already in trouble are being ruined.

A Korean court ordered the Hebei Spirit to be seized on December 24 in an effort to make her owners pay for the cleanup costs from the disaster. Samsung No.1 struck the Hebei Spirit while it was moored.

The estimated cleanup will run over 10 billion dollars. Under Korea's maritime laws the oil tanker has the responsibility to help pay for the cleanup.

Meanwhile, Samsung Heavy Industries is saying they are sorry. "We are sorry for causing a big shock and concern to the public," Samsung Heavy Industries was charged earlier this week along with 5 individuals 2 are being held in custody and 3 more have been told not to leave the country.

Photo thanks: Lee Jin-man