President Park Geun-hye called on officials Tuesday to ensure the safety of ferries, the latest in a series of calls to make South Korea a safer country following April's deadly ferry sinking.

"We should be extra careful in the safety management" of ferries, Park said in a Cabinet meeting ahead of the Chuseok holiday, which falls on Sept. 7.

Her comments came as the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries prepares to report to Park on its comprehensive measures for local ferries.

She also called on officials to hold a massive search and rescue operation to better cope with a possible disaster on land, noting a search and rescue operation that involves civilians, government officials and military personnel, took place last month in waters off Busan, South Korea's second-largest city.

The government came under intense fire for its bungled response to the ferry sinking that left more than 300 people dead or missing, mostly high school students.

Park also vowed to create a system, in which conglomerates provide practical support to creative startups and venture firms, to ensure mutual benefits between conglomerates and small firms.

She said Samsung Group, South Korea's largest family-controlled conglomerate, is set to support startups and venture firms in Daegu, 300 kilometers south of Seoul.

Samsung's businesses include Samsung Electronics Co., the world's biggest technology firm by revenue. (Yonhap)