[On Site] 'Sewol Tears' Flow for 12 Years... Mokpo New Port Was Washed in Grief Again Today

The sea breeze blowing beyond the rusted steel hull felt especially cold. Even after 12 years, the Sewol ferry wreck stood tall, silently bearing the pain of that tragic day. At 3 p.m. on April 16, 2026, in front of the Sewol ferry at Mokpo New Port, a "Mokpo Memorial Ceremony" was held to mark the 12th anniversary of the disaster.

On the afternoon of the 16th, the "12th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony for the Sewol Ferry Disaster in Mokpo" is being held in front of the Sewol ferry wreck at Mokpo New Port, Jeollanam-do, organized by the Sewol Ferry Remembrance Joint Action Meeting of the Mokpo region. Photo by Hyunki Min

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From before the start of the event, a heavy silence pervaded the site. Citizens from all across the country, including 39 bereaved family members, gathered and stared at the faded wreck, their eyes brimming with tears. Some could not bring themselves to face the vessel and bowed their heads, while others gently touched the rough surface, softly murmuring the names of the children. The scene quickly turned into a sea of tears, filled with longing and sorrow.

As the memorial video played, suppressed sobs broke out throughout the crowd. The bright smiles of the children on the screen contrasted with the tragic image of the massive hull, and the bereaved families wept uncontrollably, clutching their chests. One family member said, "Although 12 years have passed, my heart feels heavy every time I see the sea," adding, "I miss my child so much, I can hardly bear it," as they covered their face with a handkerchief.

This memorial ceremony was attended not only by the families of the Sewol victims but also by families of other tragedies who share the same pain, deepening the sense of solidarity. Families from the 12·29 Jeju Air passenger plane disaster and the Itaewon disaster took the stage to deliver solidarity messages, comforting each other's wounds. They declared, "Our call for a safer society is ongoing," and vowed, "We will stand together until the very end to ensure such a tragedy never happens again."

The highlight of the ceremony was the "Flying Yellow Paper Planes" event. Each participant folded a yellow paper plane, inscribed with their heartfelt wishes and messages of remembrance, and launched them together toward the Sewol ferry. The yellow wave that filled the sky soared as if to comfort the souls of the victims. As the planes carrying wishes for the children to be free and happy in heaven landed around the hull, citizens once again wiped away tears.

One citizen at the scene shared, "I came with my children from Gwangju. I promised never to forget, but even after 12 years, I find myself questioning how much safer our society has become," adding, "I feel only regret for the children."

The Sewol ferry sank near Jindo on April 16, 2014, and was salvaged in March 2017 before being moved to Mokpo New Port. Even after 12 years, the vessel remains at Mokpo New Port, still carrying the truth of that day and standing as a symbol of remembrance.

On this day, not only in Mokpo but also in the waters off Jindo, Gwangju, Seoul, Ansan in Gyeonggi Province, and other locations across the country, commemorative events and memorial ceremonies were held to honor the victims. Citizens wore yellow ribbons on their chests, reaffirming their vows to "never forget" and "remember."

Even after the ceremony ended, many people could not bring themselves to leave. In the plaza in front of the yellow-stained wreck, piles of chrysanthemums and letters left by citizens accumulated. While the April sunlight shone on a letter that read, "In your next life, I hope you live an ordinary, peaceful life," the tears shed at Mokpo New Port showed no sign of drying.

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