Netanyahu Wearing a Sewol Ferry Ribbon on His Chest? The Real Meaning Behind It [News Explanation]

(42) The Meaning of Ribbons Varies by Country and Color
Yellow Ribbon Used to Commemorate Hamas Airstrike Victims
Symbolizes Democracy in Hong Kong as Well

Editor's Note'Seolcham' is a newly coined term meaning to refer to detailed explanations. In [News Seolcham], we aim to pinpoint and explain in more detail the parts of the news that require fact-checking or further explanation.

As tensions rise over the war in the Middle East, the yellow ribbon that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wears on the right side of his chest every time he appears in public is attracting much attention. The yellow ribbon, used domestically in South Korea to commemorate the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster, is pinned to the collar of a foreign prime minister. In Israel, the yellow ribbon symbolizes the hope for the safe return of hostages kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The official name of this ribbon with social significance is the 'Awareness ribbon.' There are various theories about the origin of the awareness ribbon, but the most plausible one is that it originated during the American Civil War in the 19th century, when families of soldiers tied yellow ribbons on battlefields hoping for their safe return. Since then, it has been widely used not only for soldiers but also to wish for the safety of distant loved ones or to commemorate disaster victims. In 1979, when 52 Americans were held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Iran, a yellow ribbon campaign spread throughout the United States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivering a speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly on the 27th of last month. A yellow awareness ribbon honoring the victims of the Hamas airstrike is pinned to his right chest. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Currently, the same meaning is used in Israel. On October 7 last year, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel and kidnapped about 250 hostages. Some hostages have been released or exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, but many remain detained by Hamas. In response, Prime Minister Netanyahu wears the yellow ribbon to mourn the victims and hope for the safe return of the remaining hostages. The yellow ribbon was also used at the memorial ceremony held on the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on the 6th.

In Hong Kong, the yellow ribbon is used as a symbol of democracy. It originated from the yellow umbrella, which was the symbol of the pro-democracy protesters during the 2014 Hong Kong democracy protests. When Hong Kong citizens and students wore yellow ribbons to participate in anti-China and pro-democracy protests, pro-China groups launched a 'blue ribbon' campaign in opposition to the yellow ribbons worn by Hong Kong citizens.

On the 6th, a memorial ceremony was held in Jerusalem, Israel, marking the first anniversary of the surprise attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Photos of the victims were displayed on the wall. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

In Korean society, the yellow ribbon is most commonly used to commemorate the Sewol ferry disaster. On April 16, 2014, the Sewol ferry carrying a total of 476 people, including Danwon High School students and teachers, sank, resulting in 299 deaths and 5 missing persons. The fact that most of the deceased and missing were young students on a school trip shocked Korean society deeply. During the search for the missing, the area off the coast of Jindo, Jeollanam-do, was filled with yellow ribbons wishing for their safe return or commemorating the victims.

Additionally, yellow ribbons have been used to honor victims of other disasters. During the apartment collapse accident in Seo-gu, Gwangju, in January 2022, citizens hung yellow ribbons near the rescue site, praying for the safe and swift rescue of the missing.

Purple ribbons were used to commemorate the victims of the Itaewon disaster on October 29, 2022. At that time, many people had gathered in Itaewon ahead of Halloween, and a crowd crush occurred on a narrow sloped alleyway, resulting in numerous casualties. This was recorded as the largest mass casualty incident in South Korea since the 2003 Daegu subway disaster (192 deaths) and the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Awareness ribbons are also used to promote disease eradication. The pink ribbon is considered the pioneer of health-related awareness ribbon campaigns. It began in 1991 in New York, USA, when breast cancer survivors were given pink ribbons at a running event, marking the start of the 'Pink Ribbon Campaign.' The Korean Breast Cancer Society designates October as 'Breast Cancer Prevention Month' every year and conducts pink ribbon campaigns during this period to raise proper awareness of breast health and the importance of regular check-ups.

Additionally, the red ribbon is used to symbolize the fight against AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and to protect those infected. It also represents support for healthcare workers, researchers dedicated to AIDS prevention, treatment, and vaccine development, and all supporters of these efforts. Other awareness ribbons include the purple ribbon for raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease and pancreatic cancer, and the blue ribbon wishing for the eradication of prostate cancer.