[Report] '12th Anniversary of the Sewol Ferry Disaster'... "It Saddens Me to See It Gradually Forgotten"

Respect Remains Unchanged Despite New Buildings and Name Changes
The "Paengmok Memorial Center" Left Behind Amid the Port’s Glamorous Growth
"True Coexistence Requires History to Be Woven Into Everyday Life"

April 16, 2026 marks the twelfth spring since the Sewol ferry disaster. Jindo Port (formerly Paengmok Port) in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, where the children first set foot on land from the cold sea, has completed its transformation with a massive coastal passenger terminal and modern roads. However, despite the port’s glamorous growth, the space dedicated to preserving the memory of the tragedy remains confined to a rusted container, standing in stark contrast to the new developments.

On the morning of the 16th, the 12th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, a memorial flag flutters in the wind amid a quiet atmosphere at Jindo Port, Imhoe-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeonnam. Photo by Min Hyunki

"Is this the reality after 12 years?"... The Paradox of a Neglected Memorial Space

On the day marking the 12th anniversary of the tragedy, the "4·16 Paengmok Memorial Center" located at the breakwater entrance of Jindo Port has withstood the weight of time. Yellow ribbons, now so faded that they appear almost white, fluttered weakly in the sea breeze. On the other side of the port, the modern passenger terminal was bustling with travelers, but the memorial space, consisting of just two containers, had not advanced a single step from the harsh conditions of twelve years ago.

Jung Woojin (24, Daejeon), a university student visiting Paengmok Port for the first time that day, said, "I never imagined that a site so symbolic of a tragedy that made the entire nation weep would remain as nothing more than rusted containers. The stark contrast with the newly developed port facilities only deepens the sorrow. Considering the pain and cold the children must have felt, shouldn’t we at least ensure a basic level of respect?" he lamented.

"The greatest fear is being forgotten"... The Quiet Path of Remembrance

Before the memorial ceremony organized by the Sewol Ferry Disaster Jindo Solidarity, remembrance events such as tying yellow ribbons were held from early morning. While mourners gathered from across the country, the site was noticeably quieter than in previous years, with a sharp decline in visitors since the 10th anniversary.

The memorial procession, which once filled the 200-meter stretch from the entrance of the breakwater to the lighthouse, is now just a trickle of footsteps. Over the long span of twelve years, public memory has faded, and with memorial spaces now dispersed across the country, fewer people are making the journey to Paengmok itself.

Park Sohee (31, Jindo), who has volunteered every year since the disaster by serving "Remembrance Tea" with her family at Paengmok Port, said, "There used to be long lines of people waiting for tea, but this year, perhaps because it’s a weekday, the atmosphere feels even more subdued." Park added, "What scares me most is not the dwindling number of people, but the thought that this place may be erased from people’s hearts. We have a duty to guard and document this space."

Between Memory and Coexistence... "Let It Be a Lesson, Not an Indelible Stigma"

With the construction of the coastal passenger terminal, Jindo Port is being transformed into a hub for logistics and tourism. There is growing support for the port’s development as a means to revitalize the local economy, but bereaved families and civic groups are increasingly concerned that "Paengmok’s memory" is being treated as an obstacle in the process.

Yoon Sangho (67), who was seen paying silent tribute under the red lighthouse at the end of the breakwater, said, "Just because the port’s name changes and new buildings go up doesn’t mean what happened here will disappear. In fact, true coexistence is only possible when this painful history is naturally woven into the fabric of everyday life."

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