Three crew members of the sunken South Korean ferry Sewol were given honors by the South Korean government after they died saving those on board during the incident last month.

On Monday, the youngest members of the crew, including a couple, were awarded as martyrs for their heroic act that, unfortunately, claimed their lives.

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They were identified as Kim Park Ji-young, Ki-Woong and Jung Hyun-seon.

The 22 year old Park Ji-young had been reported to have given her life jacket to a passenger on board the sinking ship. She was also the youngest member of the crew.

According to a passenger who told local media, Park died while struggling to ensure passengers had life jackets and found their way out.

The survivor continued saying that Park pushed passengers towards the exit of the sinking ferry even when the water was already up to her chest.

Meanwhile, Jung Hyun-seon and Kim Ki-Woong were set to get married later this year, said local media reports.

Kim’s mother told Yonhap news that the couple has been together for four years and that she wished that the two would be happier wherever they may be.

The three crew members who were honored as martyrs would be eligible to be buried in South Korea’s national cemetery.

Their families would also get medical assistances and financial compensation, reported BBC.

On the same day of proclaiming the three as martyrs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries canceled the license of the owner of the sunken ferry, Chonghaejin Marine Co.

The authorities said that the owner contributed to the disaster after carrying passengers that were more than three times of their allowed amount of cargo.

The captain of the ferry, along with 14 other crew, were also arrested for breaking maritime laws and suspected manslaughter following negligence when they abandoned ship ahead of the passengers.

The death toll of the Sewol ferry tragedy last April 16 reached more than three hundred, many of which were high school students.

The captain along with other crew members was criticized deeply for abandoning the ship even as passengers were still on board.

The ferry was carrying 476 people at the time of the incident. It was supposed to sail from Incheon to Jeju Island but was not able to reach its destination.

There were only 172 people who survived the tragedy while others were trapped while the ship sank.

TagsSewol Ferry, South Korea sea tragedy, SoKor ferry martyrs, BBC News