▲ A bereaved family member throws a chrysanthemum into the sea during an onboard memorial service held in waters off the southwestern county of Jindo on April 16, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

ferry disaster-remembrance

Memorial services held across S. Korea on 12th anniv. of ferry disaster

SEOUL/ANSAN/JINDO, South Korea, April 16 (Yonhap) -- Memorial services were held across South Korea on Thursday in remembrance of victims killed in the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking.

A total of 304 people, mostly students on a trip from a high school in Ansan, near Seoul, died when the overloaded Sewol ferry capsized on April 16, 2014.

The events took place in an array of locations, including in Ansan, with President Lee Jae Myung in attendance. An onboard memorial service was also held in waters off the southwestern county of Jindo, where bereaved families tied yellow ribbons carrying handwritten messages on cherry blossom decorations and threw chrysanthemums into the sea.

Some 1,800 people attended the memorial service held in Ansan, where Lee said he felt "heavy responsibility" over the maritime tragedy and pledged utmost efforts not to repeat such a disaster.

It marked the first time a sitting president has attended a ceremony related to the sinking.

A siren rang for a minute at 4:16 p.m. across Ansan in remembrance of the day the ferry sinking occurred.

Similar memorial services took place in Seoul and Incheon. Most of the victims were from the greater Seoul area, including Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]