Superintendent Im Taehee Visits Ansan 4·16 Life Safety Education Center on April 14 to Honor Victims

On April 14, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education held a memorial event to honor the victims of the Sewol Ferry Disaster ahead of its 12th anniversary and to ensure that the lessons of the tragedy are not forgotten.

On this day, Superintendent Im Taehee and staff members from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education visited the 4·16 Life Safety Education Center Memory Hall in Ansan and paid tribute to the victims at the “Danwon High School 4·16 Memorial Classroom.”

Superintendent Im left a commemorative message in the electronic guestbook located in the first-floor lobby, writing, "Beloved stars of Danwon, we will always remember you." This record will be stored on the server of the 4·16 Life Safety Education Center and preserved as documentation of “dark heritage.”

Superintendent Im emphasized, “There is a clear reason why we changed the most painful place in Gyeonggi education from the ‘Democratic Citizenship Education Center’ to the ‘Life Safety Education Center.’ The promise of ‘never forgetting’ must be put into practice, not just words.”

He further pledged, “We will not linger only in sorrow, but will protect the lives and safety of our students.” He also stated, “This 4·16 Life Safety Education Center will serve as a protective fence for the future of our students,” expressing his deep condolences to the bereaved families of the Sewol Ferry Disaster victims and wishing for the eternal rest of those lost.

Gyeonggi Provincial Superintendent of Education Taehee Lim (left) is placing flowers on the desk of a victim at the 4·16 Life Safety Education Center Memory Hall in Ansan on the 14th. Provided by Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education

Renamed in 2024 from the 4·16 Democratic Citizenship Education Center, the 4·16 Life Safety Education Center has transformed from a place of painful memories into an educational institution dedicated to the lives and safety of the Gyeonggi education community. Now, it fully serves its role as a vibrant learning space that promotes the value of life through a variety of educational activities.

This event was organized to share the meaning of remembrance for the victims among the Gyeonggi education community and to raise awareness of life safety at the educational site.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education designated the period from April 13 to 16 as a memorial period, during which memorial videos are being displayed on the media walls and information screens on the first floors of both the Southern and Northern offices.

In particular, a video is also being shown on the media wall on the first floor of the Jowon Office Building, which opened on April 1, allowing all employees and visitors to remember and honor the victims of the Sewol Ferry Disaster.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.