(VOVworld) – On Wednesday the Republic of Korea’s government approved plans to raise the SEWOL ferry that sank last year, killing more than 300 people, most of them high school students.

Relatives of victims of the SEWOL ferry disaster at the site where the vessel sank, off the coast of Jindo, South Korea, last week. (Photo: AFP)

Minister of Public Safety and Security Lee In-young said that work would begin next September and the top priority was to recover the bodies of 9 missing passengers and avoid damaging the ferry.
According to the plans, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will be in charge of the salvage operation. Selection of the salvage company will soon be conducted as the company must submit its project within the next 3 months.