What's the correlation between 済む and すみません? 済む means to finish and I can't see it a correlation between the two.
Answer
A better understanding of 済む is to be settled or be cleared off. Thus すみません represents the sentiment that one owes a mental debt, something remain to be repaid. Here comes the meaning "I feel guilty to you", or "I'm sorry".
FYI the negative of 済む as such has that lexical meaning besides this cliche.
彼には済まないことをした
= I did something conscience-smitten to him
≈ "I regret what I did to him"
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