Criticism of Oh Se-hoon: "We Must Protect the Sewol Ferry Memorial Space"

Seoul City Plans to Dismantle 'Sewol Ferry Memorial Space' on 26th This Month
Song Young-gil: "The People Power Party Should Support Preserving the Experience of Regime Change Through Constitutional Procedures"
Choo Mi-ae: "Hope Mayor Oh and the People Power Party Show That There Is No Ruling or Opposition Party in Disaster Response..."

'Sewol Ferry Memorial Space' in Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu, Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea strongly opposed Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's plan to dismantle the 'Seoul Gwanghwamun Sewol Ferry Memorial Space' on the 21st.

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, stated at the budget policy meeting held at the party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the same day (21st), "The dismantling of the Sewol Ferry memorial space is causing controversy," and insisted, "The memorial space should remain as a symbolic space of the Candlelight Revolution."

He added, "Preserving this precious historical experience of a regime change through peaceful and constitutional procedures without shedding a drop of blood in Gwanghwamun is an issue that the People Power Party, which crossed the river of impeachment, should naturally support."

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae also expressed her feelings on the same day through her social media (SNS), saying, "The Sewol Ferry, raised at Mokpo New Port! Although seven years have passed, looking at the rusted red Sewol Ferry from afar made my heart heavy," and "The horrific memories of that day vividly unfolded before my eyes."

She then appealed, "I respectfully request Mayor Oh Se-hoon to engage in consultations with the bereaved families regarding the preservation plan of the Sewol Ferry memorial space," and "I sincerely hope that Mayor Oh and the People Power Party will deeply engrave the memory of the Sewol Ferry disaster and show that there is no party line in disaster response."

Meanwhile, the Sewol Ferry memorial space was created by the Seoul city government when dismantling the Sewol Ferry tent that had been in Gwanghwamun Square for nearly five years since July 2014.

Earlier, on the 9th, Seoul City sent an official letter to the '4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Families Association' stating that the Sewol Ferry memorial space installed in Gwanghwamun Square would be dismantled starting from the 26th. However, it was reported that the city expressed willingness to discuss the installation of commemorative trees or markers to remember the Sewol Ferry disaster.

On the 20th, the 4·16 Coalition issued a statement opposing the removal of the Sewol Ferry memorial space created by surviving students of Danwon High School. Photo by 4·16 Coalition

In response, on the 20th, survivors of the Sewol Ferry disaster issued a statement opposing the dismantling of the Sewol Ferry memorial space in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul.

The civic group April 16 Promise People's Solidarity (4·16 Solidarity) released a statement from 38 surviving students of Danwon High School. The students said, "The Sewol Ferry memorial space in Gwanghwamun Square is a space that citizens who have not forgotten and continue to remember the Sewol Ferry disaster have tirelessly protected," and "As survivors, the Sewol Ferry memorial space was a source of great strength and courage for us and must be preserved."

They added, "If the Gwanghwamun memorial space disappears without proper investigation into the cause of the Sewol Ferry sinking and punishment of those responsible, it will cause further pain to the people."