December 7th, 2007 The MT Hebei Spirit (an oil tanker carrying 1.9 million barrels of crude oil) collided with a crane barge owned by Samsung Heavy Industries off the western shore of South Korea. The tanker was holed in 3-5 places, and spilled approximately 12,000 tons of oil.

Within a month, over 1 million volunteers were on the scene, helping with the clean-up. Blame and liability are still being settled, with Samsung, the tugboat operator, and the tanker captain all sharing some of the blame. Marine farmers and citizens are angry over the loss of their livelihoods - protesting, and in at least three cases, committing suicide, including Ji Chang-Hwan, 56. Ji drank a bottle of herbicide before running on stage (during a rally demanding greater compensation) and dousing himself with paint thinner. He then set himself on fire with a cigarette lighter, dying in hospital the next morning.

A trial of five people accused of negligence in the spill began January 25th.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Korea_oil_spill

Note: I got this from another source, I just felt a need to post this.