hankyoreh

By Kim Gi-seong, south Gyeonggi correspondent in Ansan

“We know that whatever we do, it will be hard for us to know even a thousandth of the pain and suffering that our kids went through on that day.”

Kim Hak-il, 52, and Lee Ho-jin, 56, fathers to two former second-year students at Danwon High School who lost their lives in the sinking of the Sewol ferry, Kim Woong-gi, 17, and Lee Seung-hyun, also 17, are undertaking a 750km march in memory of their children. Seung-hyun’s older sister, Lee Ah-reum, 25, will be accompanying her father and Mr. Kim on the journey.

The reason for this lengthy trek from Ansan to Paengmok Port in Jindo County, South Jeolla Province, and then back north to Daejeon is these fathers’ fervent hope for an uncovering of the truth behind the Sewol tragedy, which is slowly fading from our national memory, and for the speedy recovery of the victims who are still missing.

In an interview with Hankyoreh before their departure from Ansan, the two fathers said, “We want to rekindle our national attention to the Sewol tragedy, which is slowly fading. This is the least we can do to ensure our children’s suffering is not all for naught. It’s just a small shout into the void.”

Seung-hyun’s father explained, “We decided upon this march because we believe that revealing the truth behind the incident, demanding that those responsible be punished, and enacting laws to ensure nothing like this ever happens again are all tasks that should be undertaken from the standpoint of the needs of the young victims of the Sewol tragedy and their bereaved families.”

Woong-gi’s father added, “We want to comfort, at least in small part, the souls of our children through this journey. We mean to urge for the truth to be uncovered and the special legislation be passed as soon as possible.”

Lee Ho-jin emphasized that “This march will be a test of the government’s real attitude, if they feel pain for our losses, and are truly looking to honor our children’s memories by taking this opportunity to reflect and reform.”

These men, who worship at Wadong Cathedral in Ansan, Diocese of Suwon, will be marching to the site of the Sewol tragedy carrying a cross that is 1.3 meters tall and weighs 5 kg. It will be a hard journey on which they will have to walk 20 to 25 km a day for 40 days. They will also be bringing a banner bearing the message, “Come back to your family as soon as possible,” referring to those victims who still have not been recovered. Seung-hyun‘s older sister Ah-reum will keep a record of the journey, as well as communicate their purpose in action to the world through social media.

The two fathers, whose sons were recovered within a day of each other, are planning on holding a traditional memorial ceremony on the street on Aug. 6-7, each date marking one hundred days since their sons were returned to them. The men will then attend a mass presided over by visiting Pope Francis at Daejeon World Cup Stadium about a week later, on August 15.

Lee Ho-jin said, “If we have a chance, we would like to present Pope Francis with the cross that we bring on this journey. If that isn’t possible, we will lay the cross next to Seung-hyun.” Unable to finally let his son go forever, Mr. Lee hasn’t yet buried or dispersed his ashes, and has kept them at home.

That afternoon, the two fathers said a painful prayer, sitting where their sons’ shadows yet seemed to linger in a classroom at Danwon High School. Then they said their last goodbyes to Danwon teachers, students, and nuns, embarking on what they knew was to be a very long journey.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]