CRI听力:S.Korea President Condemns Ferry Crew

South Korea's President is likening what the captain and certian crew members of the sunken ferry did as murder.

At the same time, Park Geun-hye is vowing to force those responsible to take legal responsibilities.

Meeting with her cabinet, Park says it is an unthinkable act both legally and ethically for the captian to order passengers to stay put, then abandon the ship themselves.

"The action of the captain and some of the crewmen was incomprehensible from a common-sense point of view and it was like an act of murder that must not be tolerated. We will force those responsible to face criminal and civil charges regardless of their ranks."

69-year old Captain Lee Joon-seok is facing five charges, including negligence of duty and abandonment resulting in deaths.

It's being alleged he ordered the passengers on the stricken ferry to stay in place.

Later, he and some of the crew of the floundering ship abandoned the vessel.

It's said the Captian was one of the first to leave the ship.

Four other crew members have also been arrested today.

The four are being charged with negligence of duty and violation of the rescue act.

The ferry capsized last Wednesday while on a trip from Incheon to the resort island of Jeju.

Of the 476 onboard, only 174 were rescued.

So far only 65 of the over 300 people presumed drowned have been recovered.

The South Korean Coast Guard is deploying two underwater drones to help in recovery.

Ko Myung-suk is with the South Korean coast guard.

"We will listen to experts' opinion to discuss ways of rescue operation while considering various possibilities. We will also use a Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV).As you know, the tidal current is strong at the accident site. The usefulness of ROV equipment is basically very low at a site where the tidal current is strong. It is not that efficient."

South Korean government has designated two areas linked to the ferry disaster as special disaster zones to speed up state support.

Park Seung-gee is with the South Korean ministry of oceans and fisheries.

"Jindo and Ansan have been declared as disaster zones. We will execute budget for the necessity and will ask for additional budget in case of the operations to be extended,"

Bad weather and dangerous tides in the region have been hampering the recovery effort.