"Go Hye-in, Kim Min-ji, Kim Min-hee, Kim Soo-kyung, and Kim Soo-kyung..."

The names of the 304 victims who were aboard the Sewol ferry 10 years ago today echoed across the sea one after another. Every time each victim’s name was called, tears broke out everywhere. Tears poured from the eyes of the bereaved families, even though their eyes should have been dry after

10 years.

The sea was indifferent. The calm sea did not respond to the bereaved families’ sobbing and struggling on board. Only the yellow buoy with the word “Sewol” on it bobbed on the waves.

On the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster on April 16, a memorial ceremony on board the ferry near the disaster site in Jindo-gun, South Jeolla Province, brought people back to the time of the disaster 10 years ago. Departing from Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, at 2 a.m., 37 bereaved families of the tragedy arrived at the accident site in three hours aboard the 3000-ton 3015 patrol ship of the Korea Coast Guard.

Visibility was short due to the cloudy weather. The vessel circled near the yellow buoy, and the bereaved families gazed at it blankly. On the deck stood two cherry trees with pink flowers hanging from their branches. Yellow ribbons with messages, such as "We miss you" and "We won't forget you" hung from the branches.

The mood became more somber as the memorial service on board began. A moment of silence was followed by eulogies from the bereaved families. Kim Byung-kwon, the father of victim Kim Bit-nara, said, "Every April, we miss our children who can't come back or who we can’t see. Flowers bloom in spring, but you remain as flowers in your parents' hearts even before blooming." He added, "Parents have been trapped in the Sewol ferry for 10 years with their children. The government should investigate the truth and punish those responsible as soon as possible."

Each of the bereaved families threw a white chrysanthemum into the sea. Some writhed as if they were about to jump into the sea, while others sat down as they were unable to throw the chrysanthemum into the sea. "I've been attending the onboard memorial service for 10 years, but even after 10 years, I don't feel numb, but I miss my daughter more," said Woo Jong-hee, the father of victim Woo So-young. "My health has deteriorated a lot over the past 10 years, and I've had knee surgery and suffered for a while. I don't want my child to see me sick, and I feel sorry for her."

Lee Yong-ki, the father of victim Lee Ho-jin, has also attended the memorial service every year. "It seems like 10 years have flown by," Lee said, "I couldn’t believe that my child was at the age of starting his career by now if he was alive.” Looking out at the calm sea, Lee said in a whimper, "I really didn't know the sea was this scary...”

After the memorial ceremony, the bereaved families headed to the hull of the Sewol ferry at Mokpo New Port. "Our biggest fear is that our children will be forgotten," said Kim In-sook, the mother of victim Jeong Da-hye, at a memorial cultural festival while looking at the ferry. "I don't want anyone else to lose their family like I did."

Solidarity speeches and performances were also made by the bereaved families of Itaewon stampede tragedy and students from Mokpo Jeil Girls' High School. Lee Jong-min, a bereaved family member of the Itaewon disaster, said, "The way the government deals with disasters has not changed 10 years ago or 10 years later," adding, "If we neglect our efforts to build a safe society, the painful situation will continue."