Bereaved Families and Mourners Still Visit... "The Truth Has Not Yet Been Recovered"
On the 16th, marking the 8th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, mourners who visited Jindo Paengmok Port are walking along the breakwater.
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters reporters Park Jin-hyung and Park Jun-ho] On the afternoon of the 16th, marking the 8th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, Paengmok Port in Imhoe-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do.
Some of the tiles on the 'Wall of Memory' artwork set up on the breakwater to commemorate the victims were damaged and torn off, and the ribbons tied to the railings were ripped or faded.
The 'Yellow Ribbon Sculpture' over 3 meters tall had rusted and turned dark red like the Sewol ferry hull, and the number '6' in the date '2014.04.16,' presumed to be the date of the disaster, was damaged, bearing the marks of time.
The memorial items were gradually fading away, but the emotional wounds in the hearts of the bereaved families and mourners still seemed unhealed.
At this place, we met Lim Young-ae, mother of the late Oh Jun-young, a 2nd-year, class 5 student at Danwon High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, who said she cannot shake off "the memory of that day."
Lim tearfully said, "A mother cannot forget the scars on the hands and feet of the children who fought to survive."
She added, "The truth of the disaster caused by the absence of the state has not yet been recovered," and lamented, "Those responsible must be punished so that such a disaster never happens again."
Banners with phrases such as "8 years ago that day, we remember you, kids, are you doing well? We want to know why you were not rescued... Revealing the truth is our responsibility" fluttered in the wind, seemingly responding to Lim’s plea.
On the 16th, marking the 8th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, faded yellow ribbons flutter at Paengmok Harbor.
Near the red lighthouse symbolizing Paengmok Port, a sorrowful pansori melody echoed, followed by citizens dressed in white playing gongs and drums as they passed by, reminiscent of a funeral procession.
On the memorial bench decorated with artificial flowers in front of the lighthouse, someone left drinks, candies, snacks, and fruits as a tribute.
Mourners gazed endlessly toward the disaster site about 30 km away, showing sorrowful expressions or shedding tears.
The rough sea that swallowed the Sewol ferry only offered the sound of calm waves that day, making the mourners feel even more heartbroken.
Lee Jae-hoon, father of the late Lee Seon-ho who died in a container safety accident at Pyeongtaek Port, Gyeonggi-do, also visited and took a photo with the sea off Jindo as the background, vowing, "I will not forget that day."
Lee bowed his head and said, "I pray for the repose of the 304 victims, including Danwon High School students, and offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. As an adult living in this world, I feel sorry and ask for forgiveness."
Kim Kyung-mi, a middle school student from Haenam, said, "I don’t know the victims well by face, but I came with my parents because I miss the older brothers and sisters. It breaks my heart to think how scared they must have been during the accident."
Yellow canola flowers, whose flower language is hope, harmonized with the ribbons caught on the barbed wire, and the 'Sewol Ferry Paengmok Memory Hall' nearby was continuously visited by mourners.
This place, which symbolizes the promise to wait until the unrecovered victims return to their families, displays group photos of the 10 classes of Danwon High School, sculptures remembering the disaster, and records.
Mourners wrote in the visitor log, lit incense in the incense burner, and spent time in remembrance while looking at photos of the victims.
The guestbook was filled with numerous messages from mourners, such as "We will not forget and will remember."
Kim Min-seon (58, female) said, "Although 8 years have passed since the disaster, the truth has not come out of the sea. I will remember the 304 who became stars in the sky and keep the memory alive in my daily life until the truth of the disaster is revealed," wiping away tears.
Meanwhile, the Sewol Ferry Paengmok Memory Solidarity held a 'Sewol Ferry Disaster 8th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony' from 3:00 to 3:40 p.m. in front of the Paengmok Sewol Ferry Memory Hall that day.
After the memorial ceremony, five groups including students from Jindo Gugak High School performed until 4:16 p.m.
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