Kim Dong-yeon: "South Korea Hasn't Moved Forward a Single Step Since the Sewol Ferry Disaster 10 Years Ago"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon attended the 10th anniversary memorial ceremony for the Sewol ferry disaster on the 16th and stated, "The reality of the Republic of Korea has not progressed even a step from 10 years ago when the Sewol ferry disaster occurred," adding, "We will remember until the end so that the lessons of Sewol are fully rooted in our society."

In his eulogy that day, Governor Kim said, "The Friday when the children were supposed to return has now passed 520 times, but the unchanged reality of the Republic of Korea is endlessly shameful," and pointed out, "We still see the unchanged reality of Korea. In the heart of Seoul, 159 innocent lives were lost. The tragic disaster has repeated itself."

He continued, "Of the 12 major recommendations made by the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters regarding the Sewol ferry disaster, the central government has implemented only one so far," criticizing, "They have not acknowledged responsibility, issued an official apology, or promised to prevent recurrence. Government budgets for Sewol memorial projects and medical support have been continuously cut, and the 4·16 Life Safety Park is being delayed due to cost-benefit logic."

In particular, he promised, "We will wait forever until the bereaved families and victims are fully recovered, and until the values of 'safety' and 'human rights' are properly upheld in our society. If this government does not do it, the next government will. We will remember and stand together until the lessons of Sewol are fully rooted in our society."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is speaking at the 10th anniversary memorial ceremony of the Sewol ferry disaster on the 16th.

He added, "Gyeonggi Province will do things differently. Safety will be the top priority at least in Gyeonggi Province," and said, "Gyeonggi Province will take the lead in creating a changed Republic of Korea."

The 10th anniversary memorial ceremony for the Sewol ferry disaster was held on the 16th at Ansan Hwarang Amusement Park, hosted and organized by the 4·16 Foundation and the 4·16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Families Association. About 2,000 people attended, including bereaved families, Governor Kim Dong-yeon, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung, and Ansan Mayor Lee Min-geun.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province is operating a week-long memorial period from the 11th to the 17th in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster. The Sewol memorial flag was raised at the flagpoles of the Suwon Gwanggyo Government Complex and the Uijeongbu Northern Government Complex. The Sewol flag features a black ribbon on a yellow background with the phrase "One small movement is a great miracle."

Additionally, stand-type banners with the phrase "All 14 million Gyeonggi residents will not forget the victims who became stars" were installed at entrances and lobbies of various government buildings, and memorial banners were also set up at the basement first floor entrance of the Gwanggyo Government Complex and Exit 4 of Gwanggyo Jungang Station.

Since January this year, Gyeonggi Province has been operating an online memorial hall for the 10th anniversary of Sewol on the "Memory and Solidarity" portal on the Gyeonggi Province website (gg.go.kr). During the memorial period, clicking the web banner links directly to the memorial hall where anyone can visit and write memorial messages.