To many Koreans, Chung Hong Won has done exactly one thing right since the tragic sinking of the ferry Sewol cost hundreds of passengers, most of them high-schoolers, their lives. On Sunday morning, South Korea's prime minister — the No. 2 official in the government — resigned.
Ignore the histrionics from opposition lawmakers who immediately demanded that Chung remain at his post and see through the recovery effort, which has been hampered by bad weather and strong currents. The government's initially shaky response to the April 16 ferry sinking had made Chung's position untenable. Beyond the weather, rescue efforts were initially slow and confused.
Most unforgivable of all, authorities at first claimed most everyone on board had been rescued, giving false hope to hundreds of now-grieving parents. That first day, Chung was the face of President Park Geun-hye's government, and enraged families of victims screamed and hurled water bottles at him.