South Korea PM resigns over ferry tragedy

South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Photo from President Park’s official Facebook page.

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea’s prime minister has offered to resign over the sinking of a ferry that has left more than 300 missing or dead.

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won’s offer comes as the government faces increasing anger from relatives of victims that it didn’t do enough to rescue or protect their loved ones.

South Korean executive power is concentrated in the president, Park Geun-hye, so the offer appears to be largely symbolic. There was no immediate word from Park about whether she would accept the resignation.

Chung was heckled by relatives and his car was blocked when he visited a shelter on an island near the site of the sinking a week ago.

Prosecutors have arrested all 15 people involved in navigating the ferry that sank April 16.