Political Circles and Government Departments Gathered
"Government Acknowledges Responsibility, No Official Apology"
"Basic Life Safety Act and Itaewon Disaster Special Act Must Be Enacted"
On the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, a memorial event titled 'Sewol Ferry Disaster 10th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony' was held on the 6th at Hwarang Amusement Park in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, honoring the victims including Danwon High School students.
The ceremony, hosted by the 4·16 Foundation and organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Education, Gyeonggi Province, Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, and Ansan City, was attended by an estimated 3,500 people according to police estimates, who paid tribute to the victims.
Political figures such as Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party; Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea; Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party; and Cho Guk, leader of the Cho Guk Innovation Party attended, along with Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province; Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries; and Lee Min-geun, Mayor of Ansan.
The ceremony began with a performance of the award-winning 2023 4·16 Safety Culture original song and a memorial video screening, followed by the calling of the names of the 304 victims and a moment of silence, speeches by guests, reading of remembrance letters, a video showing the 10-year journey of the Sewol ferry, recitation of memorial poems, and a memorial performance.
In his memorial speech, Minister Kang Do-hyung of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries stated, "We will ensure that the construction of the 4·16 Life Safety Park, scheduled to begin at Hwarang Amusement Park by the end of this year, and the National Sewol Ferry Life Memory Hall to be built at Mokpo New Port proceed as planned without any shortcomings." He added, "The government will remember the tragedy of the Sewol ferry disaster and take the enduring pain as a great lesson to create seas free from disasters and accidents."
Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, pointed out that although 10 years have passed since the Sewol ferry disaster, the government has neither acknowledged responsibility, issued an official apology, nor promised to prevent recurrence. He said, "If this government does not ensure that the lessons of the Sewol ferry are fully rooted in our society, we will remember and stand together until the next government does." He added, "We will forever remember each of the 304 victims. We will never give up."
Kim Kwang-jun, Chairman of the 4·16 Foundation, said, "Ten years is enough time to create new changes based on the lessons of the Sewol ferry disaster, but unfortunately, it seems our society has wasted those ten years." He urged, "However, we must not be discouraged and must fight against all forces that threaten our lives and safety."
Kim Jong-gi, the late Kim Su-jin’s father?who was a second-year student in Class 1 at Danwon High School at the time of the disaster and is the operating committee chairman of the 4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Families Association?demanded in his memorial speech that the government fulfill its fundamental duty to protect the lives and safety of its citizens. He claimed, "We demanded a thorough investigation without sanctuaries into the Sewol ferry disaster and punishment for those responsible for the deaths of 304 people to ensure such a tragedy never happens again, but the state ignored, obstructed, and suppressed these demands." He added, "Although late, the government must now enact the Basic Life Safety Act and the Itaewon Disaster Special Act."
Lee Min-geun, Mayor of Ansan, expressed in his memorial speech, "Praying for the peace and eternal rest of the noble victims, I hope that from this 10th anniversary onward, Ansan will become a more harmonious, healed, and safe city."
Following this, Kim Ji-ae, who is the same age as the Danwon High School victims born in 1997, read a remembrance letter addressed to her friends. Kim said, "If society does not change, I believe tragedies caused by the absence of anyone taking responsibility will surely engulf us again." She added, "Just as I think having a peaceful day is the best, I pray that my friends who became stars are peacefully living out their dreams without harm."
Then, singer Park Chang-geun performed a song in memory of the victims, and actor Park Won-sang recited the Sewol ferry 10th anniversary memorial poem written by poet Jung Ho-seung.
The ceremony concluded with the sound of sirens honoring the victims.
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