'The Sea That Swallowed Everything 10 Years Ago'... Bereaved Families Say "Still Can't Let Go"

10th Anniversary of Sewol Ferry Disaster: Memorial Ceremony on Board in the Accident Waters off Jindo, Jeonnam

37 People Including Bereaved Families Visit on Mokpo Coast Guard Patrol Vessel

Tears Flow as Children’s Names Are Called... Mutual Consolation Among Attendees

"Please appear in my dreams, Mom and Dad. I miss you so much."

On the morning of the 16th, the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, near Donggeocha Island in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do. This place, which swallowed up 304 precious lives along with the Sewol ferry and the ordinary daily lives of their families, echoed once again with cries. The cold sea breeze and waves, and the heavy atmosphere remained unchanged even after ten years?a time said to change even mountains and rivers.

On the morning of the 16th, marking the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, bereaved families attending the memorial ceremony held in the waters off Donggeochado, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, are shedding tears as they throw chrysanthemums into the sea.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

At around 7:30 a.m. that day, 37 people including bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster and members of the '0416 Danwon High School Family Association' boarded the 3015 patrol vessel (3,000-ton class) prepared by the Mokpo Coast Guard and arrived at the disaster site after about three hours of sailing. Even after ten years, they were still living in the pain of that day, unable to accept that their children had gone to heaven first.

The yellow buoy marking the Sewol accident site was heavily rusted, as if to prove the ten years that had passed. After a song commemorating the victims played, the bereaved families loudly called out the names of the 304 victims. When each other's children's names were called, they could not hold back their rising tears and sobbed uncontrollably, while comforting each other with pats on the back and words of consolation.

Every year, the association’s bereaved families float chrysanthemums along with the cherry blossoms in front of Danwon High School in Ansan, which the children loved, at the accident site. This year as well, holding chrysanthemums in their hands for the memorial flowers, the families gathered at the ship’s railing. Their bodies leaned almost over the railing as they released the flowers into the sea. Though the sight seemed dangerous, they appeared indifferent, as if wanting to be just a little closer to their children.

The dozens of flowers scattered in this way soon sank, as if to convey the warmth of the families to the Sewol ferry and the victims who sank into the sea ten years ago that day.

Kim Byung-kwon, father of the late Kim Bitnara, who prepared the memorial address that day, said, "When I see the cherry blossoms on the street in front of Danwon High School, tears well up suddenly," adding, "Carrying such deep sorrow in my heart, I sent off a single flower on that long journey, and now I can neither see nor touch them. Mom and Dad live their daily lives, but they are still trapped in the Sewol ferry. When will they be able to escape from the Sewol ferry?"

Lee Yong-gi, auditor of the association and father of the late Lee Hojin, also conveyed the sad news that on the 5th of this month, a bereaved family member who could not overcome the grief made an extreme choice.

He bowed his head and said, "The government promoted discrimination during the enactment of the Sewol Special Act and the trial process, leading to tragic deaths. There are three bereaved families who have left this world like this. I am sorry to the children."

After the memorial service, the bereaved families and officials from the 4·16 Foundation renewed their annual promise and said their farewells before returning to Mokpo, where they continued the memorial ceremony at the Sewol ferry hull docked at Mokpo New Port.