Sewol Ferry Love Track

The Sewol ferry disaster was one of the worst tragedies in modern South Korean history. April 16, 2014. The passenger ferry Sewol capsized and sank while traveling from Incheon to Jeju Island, South Korea.

Many students could have survived if they had been told to evacuate promptly and the rescue response had been more effective. But the students were told to STAY WHERE YOU ARE. DO NOT MOVE.

304 people died, including 250 high school students from Danwon High School who were on a school trip.

Why so many died: The ferry was overloaded and improperly modified, contributing to instability. The crew gave passengers instructions to stay put instead of evacuating, while the ship tilted and eventually sank.

Government response: Rescue efforts were widely criticized as slow and ineffective. The captain and several crew members abandoned the ship while many passengers remained trapped inside.

Aftermath: The captain received a life sentence for murder related to abandoning passengers; other crew members were also convicted. The disaster sparked nationwide mourning, public anger and major protests over government accountability.