Ten classrooms at Danwon High School were transformed into memorial sites during the Sewol Ferry Tragedy on April 16, 2014, when the lives of 250 students and 12 teachers (nearly its entire second year class) were lost off the coast of Donggeochado, South Korea. Overnight these classrooms were covered in their own sea of photographs and personal letters addressed to the departed. From this origin of loss, these classrooms emerged as sacred spaces, repositories of memory.
Amidst debate of what should be done to preserve the memorials, a controversial attempt to forcibly clear out and remodel the classrooms was made almost immediately after the 2nd year anniversary of the tragedy. For several days family members occupied the school grounds until an extension was granted to access the classrooms for a few more weekends. In August of 2016, the school resumed renovations and removal of all memorial items. Powerless against the forces that be, these families say they’re losing their children and loved ones for a second time. |
단원고등학교의 10개 교실이 2014년 4월 16일 대한민국, 동거차도 앞바다에서 학생 250명과 교사 12명(2학년의 전체에 가까운)의 목숨을 앗아간 세월호 참사의 추모지로 탈바꿈했습니다. 밤새 이 교실들은 고인들에게 보내는 사진과 개인적인 편지들로 덮였습니다. 이러한 상실의 근원으로 이 교실들은 성스러운 공간, 기억의 보고가 되었습니다.
추모지 보존을 위해 무엇을, 어떻게 해야 하는지에 대한 논쟁이 벌어지는 가운데, 참사 2주년을 맞은 직후 교실들은 강제로 비우고 리모델링 하려는 시도가 논란이 되었습니다. 며칠 동안 고인들의 가족들이 학교 운동장에 자리를 잡은 덕분에 교실들을 몇 주말 동안 더 사용할 수 있게 되었습니다. 2016년 8월에 학교는 리모델링과 추모 물품의 제거를 재개했습니다. 그에 대항할 수 있는 힘이 없는 가족들은 사랑하는 자식들을 한 번 더 잃는 기분이라고 말했습니다. |
A defaced memorial blackboard in Danwon High. Erased were student names and personal messages, some existing there for over two years. Seemingly undeterred, a new note appeared a few days after the vandalism. In a simple, concerned tone it asks the deceased: "Everybody is okay, right?”
To Dreamy Bear~
Because I’m afraid it would make you sad to hear it, I smile instead of saying how much I miss you. The pain of April continues in spite of my smiles… Even when I’m around people, I feel so empty and lonesome. I want to cry but I make myself hold back the tears because I’m my Jun-young’s mom and you are my forever baby… With all my love, your mom who always feels so sorry for you~
Because I’m afraid it would make you sad to hear it, I smile instead of saying how much I miss you. The pain of April continues in spite of my smiles… Even when I’m around people, I feel so empty and lonesome. I want to cry but I make myself hold back the tears because I’m my Jun-young’s mom and you are my forever baby… With all my love, your mom who always feels so sorry for you~
Im Young-ae writes to her son, Oh Jun-young. His body returned home on what would have been his 18th birthday.
“Going to school, I feel happy hearing your voice. My footsteps feel so light,” my pretty daughter Do-eun used to say... “I want to be with you forever, Mom, always,” my pretty daughter Do-eun also used to say… Do-eun~ Let’s go to school~ Listen to Mom’s voice and let’s go to Danwon High School~ Do-eun~ Do-eun~ Let’s go to school… Let’s got to school and study…. Let’s go to school with a smile…
Lee Ji-sung presses tight a photo of her daughter, Kim Do-eun, while sitting at her classroom desk in room 2-3.
Clocks in many of the memorial classrooms were set to 4:16 in reference to April 16th, the date of the Sewol Ferry sinking.
I miss you so much and I am picturing you in my heart. Seong-ho, I’m having a hard time because you are not here. I promise to live my life to the fullest for you.
Park Ye-na holds her brother Seong-ho’s Danwon High School identification card.
The reason death is horrible is because you never know when it may strike. For someone like me, someone who wasn’t able to express love until it was too late, death fills you with regret. I hope you won’t let that happen in your life. Another reason death is awful is that it makes us forget. I feel like I’m falling deep into the ground when I think I can’t remember Yeong-man’s face anymore. It’s better when I cry my eyes out. Please don't forget about the precious lives that were lost during this tragedy, especially if you have a sense of sympathy for the wrongful deaths of 304 people and the issues that allowed it to happen.
Lee Yeong-su sits in front of a two-year old note addressed to his brother.Written on the blackboard of classroom 2-6, it reads:
“Yeong-man, I, your older brother, am here. Did you reach the end safely? I miss you. I'm so sorry. Now I can tell you, I love you.
“Yeong-man, I, your older brother, am here. Did you reach the end safely? I miss you. I'm so sorry. Now I can tell you, I love you.
To my beloved daughter, So-jung, who I wish I could call out to and hold once more. Your voice and laughter still linger in my ears vividly. But in reality, nothing is there. My loving So-jung. Thanks for being my daughter. Mom loves you so much.
Kim Jeong-hee writes to her daughter, Kim So-jung. Her school jacket hangs on the back of her chair in classroom 2-2.
My dear son, Young-seok,
I’m sorry you were born as my son and lived a short life. It was August 2016, on the 858th day that my sweet son came to me. He spoke, asking me to try to save the Danwon classrooms one last time, but I couldn’t. Now as I look around the classrooms, I see things like the playground, soccer field, water fountain and jungle gym, places where you used to play and I feel like I failed to protect your dreams and hopes. I believe that the cherry blossoms in the school garden will remember my cherished son. I can still see you and your friends talking and laughing there from a distance. I’m sorry for you and hope you and your friends are doing well in heaven. I was happy with you. But I feel like I turned out to be a shameful mom. I think you would have grown up so well! I promise you I won’t give up searching for the cause of the wrongful deaths. Don’t forget, I’m always with you until the day we meet again. I love you my one and only son!
I’m sorry you were born as my son and lived a short life. It was August 2016, on the 858th day that my sweet son came to me. He spoke, asking me to try to save the Danwon classrooms one last time, but I couldn’t. Now as I look around the classrooms, I see things like the playground, soccer field, water fountain and jungle gym, places where you used to play and I feel like I failed to protect your dreams and hopes. I believe that the cherry blossoms in the school garden will remember my cherished son. I can still see you and your friends talking and laughing there from a distance. I’m sorry for you and hope you and your friends are doing well in heaven. I was happy with you. But I feel like I turned out to be a shameful mom. I think you would have grown up so well! I promise you I won’t give up searching for the cause of the wrongful deaths. Don’t forget, I’m always with you until the day we meet again. I love you my one and only son!
Kwon Mi-hwa writes a letter to her son, Oh Young-seok, in classroom 2-7.
When you left, you said you’d be back home on Friday, Jung-seul! I’m aching and aching to see you. I didn’t even have a chance to say I loved you. When will we see you? You are in our whole family’s heart. Please wait until we meet again. I love you, Jung-seul!
Jun Mi-soon remembers her granddaughter, Park Jung-seul, at her desk in classroom 2-10.
Visiting the memorial classrooms before their official removal, families used the time to write to their children or pack up personal belongings.
Yun-min!
I miss you so bad, my sweet one. You miss me too, right? I’m wondering when we'll be able to see each other again. I want to see you so much. Please wait for me there with your dear friends. My precious, Yun-min. I love you and I’m dying to see you. I believe we can meet each other soon, yes?
I miss you so bad, my sweet one. You miss me too, right? I’m wondering when we'll be able to see each other again. I want to see you so much. Please wait for me there with your dear friends. My precious, Yun-min. I love you and I’m dying to see you. I believe we can meet each other soon, yes?
Park Hea-young recalls her daughter, Choi Yun-min. Prior to the trip, Yun-min painted her toenails pink with white flowers.
It was one of the ways the family was able to identify her body, found 8 days after the sinking.
It was one of the ways the family was able to identify her body, found 8 days after the sinking.
To our daughter, Yun-min,
I miss you terribly. I try to believe that you are still away on your school field trip. How I wish you would quickly come back home. Then I would be happy. I love you, my daughter!
I miss you terribly. I try to believe that you are still away on your school field trip. How I wish you would quickly come back home. Then I would be happy. I love you, my daughter!
In classroom 2-3, Choi Sung-yong looks over letters addressed to his daughter, Choi Yun-min.
Part of a letter posted on one of the classroom windows reads: “Dear Teacher, I always made excuses not to visit you and instead took the easy way of phone messaging you. So you must come back quickly and punish this lazy student of yours. You are a wonderful teacher and I miss you very much. Please come back."
My son, Cha-woong!
Please come back in some way. Return to me as a star, the wind, or even sunshine…!
Please come back in some way. Return to me as a star, the wind, or even sunshine…!
Kim Yeon-sil cleans the classroom of her son, Jeong Cha-woong, who is widely considered a hero for his selfless act of giving
his life jacket to a scared friend. The friend survived but he did not. Cha-woong died a day before his 17th birthday.
his life jacket to a scared friend. The friend survived but he did not. Cha-woong died a day before his 17th birthday.
My daughter! My superstar, Jeong Yea-jin!!! I wish I could hug you once more. You are Mom’s heart. I love you…
Park Yu-shin buries her head into Jeong Yea-jin’s memorial journal.
Jin-lee's life felt even more tragic since all that we really knew of him was his name. It was painful for me because I remember those school children with the belief that just one life is more precious than the heavens... And it hurts me even more to think of his parents suffering in silence. I believe remembering him is my duty and a road we must travel together.
Han Kyoung-sook recalls her thoughts about Moving Day. On August 20, 2016, volunteers and
family members were tasked with the removal of memorial items from Danwon High School.
family members were tasked with the removal of memorial items from Danwon High School.
On April 15, 2014, my son went on a school field trip. On April 16, the ship he was on sank but nobody saved him. I’m sorry, my son. I’m sincerely sorry that I still eat and sleep. I’m sorry I’m continuing to go on even though I feel I can’t. Many times each day I wish I could see my son. It would be so nice to see you, even if it was only in my dreams. My son, Soon-bum! I miss you so bad. I miss your laughter with your friends, despite not knowing what was so funny. Or the way you looked singing Karaoke with your sisters. And I remember how nicely you’d answer whenever I’d tell you it was time to study. You would always help me do the laundry and showed your love with actions. My special son, I want to see you and I miss you. How I wish I could go back to April 15, 2014. Why didn’t they save you all? My goal now is to find out~~~ My love for you is as endless as the sky and as big as the Earth.
Choi Ji-young, mother of student Kwon Soon-bum, collapses outside of
Danwon High School protesting the removal of classroom memorial items.
Danwon High School protesting the removal of classroom memorial items.
That day when the classrooms were removed from Danwon High School, I felt the vinyl flags fluttered like funeral streamers, sobbing as they moved in the wind with the souls of the children...
Volunteer Misun Cho recalls Moving Day. Parked on the school's soccer field,
a total of six vans were used to remove the majority of memorial items off campus.
a total of six vans were used to remove the majority of memorial items off campus.
Chang-hyun!~~~ You are watching over Mom, aren’t you? Mom misses you so much! There are so many things I’d like to tell you… Let’s catch up in my dreams tonight.
Choi Soon-hwa looks down from her son Lee Chang-hyun's boxed up classroom.
She contemplates jumping from the 3rd story windows as a means to stop Moving Day, which has just begun.
She contemplates jumping from the 3rd story windows as a means to stop Moving Day, which has just begun.
A view of Danwon from a classroom window.