Vice-Principal Rescued From south Korean Ferry Found Hanged

Kang Min-Kyu, 52

A high school vice-principal rescued from the capsized South Korean ferry has been found hanged, according to police.

Kang Min-Kyu, 52, was one of more than 300 teachers and students on board the Sewol ferry and was reported missing on Thursday night.

His body was found near the school gymnasium on Jindo island where many of the relatives and rescued people have been staying, according to Yonhap news agency.

Police officers reportedly found a suicide note in Mr Kang's wallet.

Yonhap reported the note read: "Surviving alone is too painful while 200 remain unaccounted for. I take full responsibility. I pushed ahead with the school trip.

"I will once again become a teacher in the afterlife for my students whose bodies have not been discovered."

The group from Danwon High School, in Ansan city south of Seoul, were going on an excursion to the resort island of Jeju.

Fourteen students and teachers from the school have been found dead and 247 are still missing in what could be South Korea's worst maritime accident in 21 years.

Friends and family have been staying at the school awaiting news as they watch live coverage of the accident on a projector. The school itself is closed until April 23.

Fellow students have left messages for classmates on desks, blackboards and windows.

Major TV stations in South Korea have stopped showing prime-time soap operas and popular entertainment shows as the country reacts to the disaster.

The country's two main parties have imposed a temporary ban on political campaigning ahead of local elections in June.

Provincial governments have suspended festivals, concerts and firework shows and dozens of K-pop stars have postponed the scheduled release of new albums as people mourn.

The ferry began listing on Wednesday morning three hours out from Jindo island.

Rescuers have struggled to gain access to the vessel's hull due to currents and weather conditions.