The Right to Health of Victims, Citizens, and Parents: A Study of Families Bereaved by the Sewol Ferry Disaster

Abstract

In recent years, discussions on the right to health have been vigorous, but discussions on the health rights of disaster victims have been relatively insufficient. Also, while focusing on physical and mental health, not much discussion centered on social and spiritual health. Based on field research in Ansan for the past six years and on oral testimony, this paper examines how the right to health of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster was experienced and practiced. Results are the following: First, support for victims mental health was actively carried out through the Ansan Mental Health Trauma Center, but this led to difficulties in solving victims physical health problems. Second, while focusing specifically on the mental and physical health of disaster victims, the right to social health—the right to live in a safe and healthy working and living environment as citizens—was overlooked. Third, although the fact-finding efforts of the victims are closely related to their spiritual health, discussions of the victims health have been conducted in a way that separates fact-finding efforts from health issues. Based on this analysis, the researcher suggests that in order to secure realistic, comprehensive, and effective health rights for the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, the organic relationships between physical, mental, social, and spiritual health should be considered, and policies that take into account the field situation and the voices of victims, beyond laws and systems, are needed.