hankyoreh

Families who lost loved ones in the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry 10 years ago throw white carnations into the sea near where the ferry sank to mark the anniversary of the disaster on April 16, 2024. (Kim Yong-hee/The Hankyoreh)

When the yellow buoy came into vision through the fog, mournful wails echoed across the black-blue surface of the sea. A father bowed his head in silence, clutching the deck railing. A mother’s knees buckled as she sobbed profusely. Siblings who raised their chins to the sky, unable to control their tears. Everyone reacted in their own way, but the weight of their sorrow seemed universal.
 
At around 7:30 am on Tuesday, 48 people, including the bereaved families of the Association of Danwon High School Families, representatives of the 4/16 Foundation and the Ansan Mental Health Trauma Center who had departed from the Gyeonggi Province city at dawn, boarded a 3,000-ton coast guard vessel, the 3015.
 
Around three hours after setting sail, three bellowing calls from the ship’s horn signaled their arrival at the site where the Sewol ferry sank on the same day 10 years ago,  3.3 kilometers south of Donggeocha Island, in South Jeolla Province’s Jindo County. 
 

Families who lost loved ones in the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry 10 years ago hold a memorial ceremony aboard a Coast Guard vessel as they visit the site of the sinking on April 16, 2024. (Kim Yong-hee/The Hankyoreh)

The expressions of the bereaved families at the 10th memorial service were heavy and somber.
 
Every year, the Danwon High bereaved families gather the cherry blossoms that bloom in front of Danwon High School, a favorite of many of the children who passed, along with chrysanthemums, and bring them to the sea. This year, they couldn’t get real flowers, so they used cherry blossom-shaped artificial flowers instead.
 
The families tied yellow ribbons inscribed with the phrase, “We will not forget,” as well as the names of the deceased children to the cherry blossoms.
 
Kim Byeong-gwon, who lost his daughter Kim Bitnara in the disaster, read a message in memory of his daughter.
 
“Whenever the cherry blossoms in front of Danwon High bloom, I fight tears while looking at them. You’ve had to embark on such a lonely journey as a single flower, with deep unfinished business lingering in your heart,” he said.  

“It’s hard to acknowledge that we can no longer see or touch you. Your mother and I go about our everyday lives, but the Sewol tragedy looms large over us. I wonder, when will we be able to escape the tragedy’s shadow?” the bereaved father went on.
 
The families began to pay tribute with flowers while the song “I’ll never forget” played in the background. The sounds of wailing and sobs recommenced, with cries of “I miss you so much,” “I’m so sorry” and “I love you.”
 

Families who lost loved ones in the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry 10 years ago throw white carnations into the sea near where the ferry sank to mark the anniversary of the disaster on April 16, 2024. (Kim Yong-hee/The Hankyoreh)

Lee Yong-gi, the Danwon High family association’s auditor and father of the late Lee Ho-jin, shared the news that a fellow bereaved family member had been unable to overcome their grief and took their own life on April 5. This marks the third bereaved family member to take their own life.
 
“While enacting the Sewol Special Act and the trial process, the government incited these tragic deaths as well as discrimination. My heart aches. I feel like I owe the children.” Lee said, hanging his head. 
 
Once the sobs on the deck abated, five volunteers, who were said to have not left the bereaved families’ sides for six months since the day after the tragedy, tossed white carnations into the sea.
 
When asked why they chose white carnations, out of all the flowers, a volunteer who wished to remain anonymous said, “Because of what they signify.” 

“In the language of flowers, white carnations mean ‘I love you with all my heart.’”

By Kim Yong-hee, Gwangju correspondent

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