Prelude: April 16, 2014

This archive is a reflection on the intellectual impact of the Sewol Ferry tragedy on my life.

On April 16, 2014, a ferry headed towards Jeju Island in South Korea sank, killing 304 innocent lives — most of them being students from Danwon High School. At first, the tragedy just seemed like an unfortunate accident. However, as time passed and more information was discovered, the underlying political corruption and negligence by authorities was revealed, leaving the public furious.

On April 16, 2014, I was sitting at my dining table after school, watching the news. I remember seeing the footage of the ferry sinking on television, but the headline declaring that there were no casualties and everyone was safe. It seemed like any other accident. Only moments later, false reports were corrected: that the majority of the passengers had disappeared along with the ship.

This archive contains documentaries, music, illustrations, and poems regarding the Sewol Ferry tragedy that occurred 6 years ago. As monumental of an event this was in South Korean history, it was a pivotal moment in my life where I began questioning and reflecting on aspects of my intellectual identity.