Films & Songs
A collection of short films and songs that commemorate the Sewol Ferry tragedy.
“My child kept trying to call me while I was on another call. When I tried to call back, I could not get through. Then I switched on the TV and saw it…”
It’s hard to explain the exact emotions that I feel whenever I watch the short film, “Last Letters”. It’s an odd mixture of frustration, sadness, and anger. At the time of the incident, I was only 12 years old and it was difficult for me to really comprehend what was going on as the boat was sinking. Being so young, I had no real perception of death and its direct effect on people; listening to the voices of the victim’s families was emotionally overwhelming for me. However, through these testimonies, I was able to broaden my perspectives and gain a better internal understanding of injustice and carelessness.
A specific part of the film that really stuck out to me was when one of the victim’s father began talking about how he wished he would have done more for his son and been a better dad. He mentioned how he regretted not being as supportive as he could’ve been or buying him things that he wanted. This statement from the father really hit me and got me thinking about how the little things in life are always so overlooked. It’s hard for people to live each day to the fullest and express their appreciation and love for each other because we always think we have more time. The reality is, is that we don’t know if there will be a tomorrow. I was challenged in the sense that I began approaching every day with a more spontaneous and open mindset. It taught me to be more grateful for the things that I normally would take for granted.
“But how come you, the elites of the society claim that you don’t know and you don’t remember?” -Kim Gwan Hong, Civilian Diver
Compared to “Last Letters,” this short documentary by The New Yorker had a different effect on me. This film being a bit more informational rather than emotional, I was able to gain a better understanding of the exact situation and flow of events regarding the ‘rescue’ procedure — which there really wasn’t one. The video uses audio and visual clips to show clearcut evidence of blatant irresponsibility by authorities and frustrating communication between rescue units and the Blue House.
I cried tears of frustration while watching this film. It was heartbreaking to see and hear the devastation in the parents’ voices as it was being starkly contrasted with the complacency and emotionless drawl of the government authorities. The captain being the first one to flee the ship. The changes in attitude just because the President was in the area. The prominence of toxic elitism in Korean culture was the ultimate catalyst to the death of hundreds of innocent young lives. Watching corruption happen in such plain sight made me understand the value and significance of challenging authority and establishing a voice.
This Spotify playlist consists of a list of songs that are interpreted to be commemorations of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. Many of the song lyrics subtly address the events of the sinking, or have themes of grieving for a lost loved one. Including any hidden messages or references in songs regarding the Sewol Ferry was and still is a pretty big deal in South Korea. As social media movements became prevalent, demanding justice and the truth regarding the accident, it was a bold statement (often a political one) by artists to release content related to it.
There was even a scandal where former President Park had created a black list of artists who had released songs related to the Sewol Ferry accident. Artists on the black list would not receive sponsorship from the government and there were rumors of potential bans being placed over certain songs. Those in positions of power are scared of the people. Listening to these songs really helped me to understand that I am not small and that I hold a potentially greater power than those sitting at the top.
A song that I want to put on the spotlight is “Melted” by Akdong Musician. This song could not have been written directly about the Sewol Ferry, because it was released a couple days before the incident occurred. However, the song blew up on the media for its lyrics and overall vibe of the song because of how eerily it could be connected with the corruption surrounding the event. “Melted” is interpreted to be a song that criticizes adults’ coldness and failure to recognize the hopes of the younger generation. Lyrics such as “The blue ocean that the red sun used to wash its face turns black” and “But why is the ice so cold? Why is it so cold?” were especially emphasized because of the ocean imagery and ice metaphor (ice symbolizing adults).
“One of These Nights” by Red Velvet is another song I want to point out. Unlike “Melted,” this song was released two years after the Sewol Ferry tragedy and there are many credible theories regarding whether or not this tune is a direct reference to the event. There are analysis videos on YouTube that breakdown not only the lyrics, but the music video as well that provide pretty convincing bits of evidence. I personally do think that this song is primarily connected with the incident. The lyrics that stuck out to me the most were “I can’t quickly forget, because I’m still in the same place even when the pages of the calendar turns.” I believe that it is more than a coincidence that the theme of never forgetting is included in this song that is about meeting someone again that is gone.
Listening to these songs always brings back waves of emotion, especially of how I felt at the time I was watching the live news about the sinking. I admire and respect the artists who released these songs, as it really inspires me to share my voice with the world even if it can be controversial or shut down. Being able to communicate emotions about certain experiences through music is definitely a huge part of my life, as I have been hugely influenced by music to the point I am now majoring in it.
Works Cited
AKMU. “Akdong Musician(AKMU) — 얼음들(MELTED) M/V.” YouTube, 14 Apr. 2014, https://youtu.be/sUCIzn0mRHc.
KPOP Junkee. “Red Velvet — One of These Nights MV Theories and Symbolism.” YouTube, 21 Mar. 2016, https://youtu.be/W-IyTC7rSno.
Nils Clauss. “Last Letters.” YouTube, 4 Apr. 2018, https://youtu.be/Cg1zta6j34I.
SMTOWN. “Red Velvet 레드벨벳 ‘7월 7일 (One Of These Nights)’ MV.” YouTube, 16 Mar. 2016, https://youtu.be/9xWiro_tS1k.
The New Yorker. “What Went Wrong in the South Korean Ferry Disaster? | The New Yorker.” YouTube, 16 Apr. 2019, https://youtu.be/5_A8dq2fA5o.
“the yellow ribbon”, https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1EeF8UXrjs4fjQkIn3qLZF?si=pbJ5Nh78TZevg-JFBnrFkg.
