South Korea's president has promised to raise the Sewol ferry, as the nation marks a year since the disaster.

A total of 304 people, mostly school students, were killed when the ship - which was overloaded and illegally redesigned - sank off Jindo island.

The disaster triggered nationwide grief and outrage and led to severe criticism of safety standards and rescue efforts.

The Sewol ferry disaster left 304 people - mostly teenage students - dead or missing

Divers have recovered all but nine of the bodies. Relatives say the ship must be raised and their remains found.

The government says salvaging the ship will cost $110m (£74m) and has previously refused to commit to doing so.

But President Park Guen-hye, speaking at a port in Jindo, said she would take "the necessary steps to salvage the ship at the earliest possible date".

(Source: BBC)