Thousands of South Korean police raided a religious compound Wednesday in their search for a businessman wanted in connection with an April ferry sinking that killed over 300 people.
Yoo Byung-un is the head of a family that runs the Chonghaejin Marine Company, which owned and operated the Sewol ferry. The 72-year-old, who has evaded a nationwide manhunt for almost a month, is wanted on embezzlement, negligence, and tax evasion charges.
About 6,000 police officers, many in riot gear, stormed a large religious complex belonging to the Evangelical Baptist Church, where Yoo was a co-founder. After a brief standoff, police entered the facility, which is about 80 kilometers south of Seoul.
President Park Geun-hye, whose government has been criticized for its response to the ferry disaster, on Tuesday told her cabinet that Yoo must be brought to justice. Investigators are also determining whether lax safety standards and poor maintenance led to the disaster.