Bereaved families of the Sewol ferry tragedy hold a memorial rally near Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on April 12. Yonhap News

A memorial rally was held in the center of Seoul over the weekend ahead of the 11th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster. Citizens gathered in a plaza in the spring rain chanted, “We will not forget the tragedy.”

The April 16 Sewol Families for Truth and A Safer Society and the April 16 Coalition on the Sewol Ferry Disaster held the “Memorial Rally Commemorating the 11th Anniversary of Sewol Ferry Disaster” near Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on April 12. According to organizers, around 1,500 people attended the event.

As with the rally calling for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, many flags appeared in the rally. The flags were tied with yellow ribbons symbolizing the Sewol ferry disaster. Before the main event began, a performance titled “The First Flag of the Plaza, Everyone’s Flag” was held, in which flag bearers waved their flags. “I was an elementary school student at the time of the tragedy, and I remember when my teacher told me the news in class and when I first went to the candlelight vigil holding my father's hand,” said Ms. Kim, 21. “I feel like the Sewol ferry disaster is not over because the truth is not being properly investigated and those involved are not being punished.”

Yellow ribbons and yellow badges tied to people's belongings dyed one side of Gwanghwamun yellow. Volunteers from the April 16 Coalition on the Sewol Ferry Disaster placed yellow paper butterflies, made from traditional Korean hanji paper, on people’s shoulders or heads. “I've been teaching my students about the Sewol ferry disaster every time April comes around,” said Kim Byung-seok, 54, an elementary school teacher. “Before being a teacher, I’m an adult, and I’ve always felt a deep sense of regret for not being able to protect the children.” Park Min-ji, 38, who brought her 5-year-old child to the rally, said, “Before I had a child, I used to visit Paengmok Port every year to pay my respects,” adding, “It always rains at this time of year, which makes me think about the victims.”

“Citizens who are angry with the country have walked alongside the victims to create a safe society, and over the past 11 years, our steps are changing our society little by little,” said Kim Soon-gil, secretary-general of the April 16 Sewol Families for Truth and A Safer Society and the mother of the victim Jin Yoon-hee. As the rain poured down during the event, the bereaved families in yellow jackets wiped away the falling rain and their tears with their hands.

More than 20 citizen participation booths were set up at the event, with various disaster victims' groups also taking part, including the October 29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and the Disaster Victims Solidarity Network. Song Hae-jin, mother of the late Lee Jae-hyun, a victim of the Itaewon disaster, said, “We must ensure that no more precious lives are lost due to the incompetence of the country. The wrongdoings committed by Park Geun-hye and Yoon Suk-yeol must be clearly revealed, and those responsible must be held accountable.”