What Went Wrong in the South Korean Ferry Disaster? | The New Yorker 

Telling the passengers to stay put is like telling them to wait for their own death.

"We have to pretend we are doing something" Corruption at its worst

“We didn’t check the cabins but it seems most of them are out” the fact that this is a conversation between the Air Force and coast guard only makes this even more horrifying.

"Isn't this the kind of situation when they tell you to stay put and that it will be okay and then they run away for their lives?" this breaks my heart every time.

You know what hurts more? The students messages to their parents and knowing that they ain't alive anymore..

The students trusted thier teachers, the teachers trusted the crew members and the crew members trusted their captain... And the captain escaped faster than anyone...

The fact that one of the security or guards literally wiped their tears but kept a straight face is heart breaking, imagine being those guards seeing parents crying in tears because of their loved ones, I would burst out crying tbh.

This is the best article I’ve read on this horrible tragedy. It did not show local fishermen in boats pleading to let them help rescue passengers they saw through windows because the coast guard blocked them. Another failure of authorities where lives could have been saved. Truly heartbreaking. I’m crying every time I read about it. RIP dears.

“Nobody is left on the ship” 291 people...

I'm still mad at the fact that they lied. They lied that everyone is already safe

Only advice you can give to anyone on a sinking ship is: 1. Don't get trapped inside. Stay outside, stay on top, stay visible for rescuers. 2. If there's time, find anything you can use to float with/on once the ship has sank. 3. If you can see land, make your way towards it.

The diver says, “I remember this completely. How do you, the elites of our society say that you don’t remember?” The families/people behind him breaking down after he says that is so sad because they too will always remember while the elites “laze around” as the other guy says

the fact that civilians were the ones still trying to search for survivors and not the government. this whole video was so upsetting...

"We didn't search the cabins but it seems most of them are out" I'm speechless

The diver literally spoke the fact that they wouldn’t need any divers if they have saved before fully sinking of ship but all they did was just reporting each other not trying to save people. It’s heartbreaking 😭RIP💐

Even the civilian diver died cause of trauma but the captain easily said he don't remember anything.

The fact that the one girl who said “isn’t this the kind of situations where they tell us to stay put while they run for their lives.” Was so accurate it’s sad

1:33 that girl literally predicted what the coward captain did.

4:52 The fact that one parent was devastated and disappointed at herself bc she told her child to just listen to the captain, meanwhile the captain escaped and left many kids in danger at risk and leaving many parents worried.

the fact that all the captain had to do was ask everyone to calmly put life jackets on and head to the deck and they would've most likely survived is devastating. i hope the survivors and parents can forgive themselves and live happily..the captain on the other hand...i won't even say what i hope for him

"The kids were killed while waiting. Don't tell me to wait."

Don't stay inside a sinking ship. Don't stay inside a burning house. No matter how anyone told you to stay put.

My best friend died in this tragedy and the last things he said to me were I cant swim anymore. No one deserves to experience such a thing this whole experience was horrendous for me I am looking for ways to escape the guilt and sadness that took over me that day

the fact that they were probably having the time of their lives being so exited and looking forward to their trip makes it all the more tragic

I hate the fact that they had so much time to get to the deck and get rescued, but the captain told them to stay put and all of them just drowned, when they had so much time to escape. Their deaths were preventable.

The fact that they had civilian divers retrieving the bodies instead of the government is so ridiculous to me

there was also a U.S. navy ship (USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6) that SPECIALIZED in water and air rescue with 1000 marines on board that offered the SK government to help TWICE but they refused both times for their pride..

1:43 - 1:58 This aged so well "But only the people who didn't follow the order survived"

Well at least they got several cameras there just in time to give the world a lot of footage of their own incompetence.

those girls in the beginning saying “isnt this the situation where they tell us to stay put but they run away by themselves? and those who disobeyed and ran away survived, like that one subway accident?”

The pain on the parents' faces are heartbreaking. No one deserves this kind of pain.

I can not imagine the pain and frustration that the kids went through. Drowning is one of the worst ways to pass away. I hope that every captain and crews have seen this all over the world & got educated on what to do and what not to do in a case like this. Just thinking the suffering of the scared kids breaks my heart. They did not deserve to die like that.

What hit me was the parents “ our children waited for there deaths don’t tell me to wait” and the police officer doing her job crying 😓

I cried and am still crying. That Captain makes me sick. The people telling then to stay put make me sick. This whole incident makes me sick.

I am watching it after nine years of the incident and it's painful to even think about the struggle those people faced. Those people who lost their loved ones, i am deeply sorry for your loss. RIP😞

I saw a video of a student saying that he is still so young and there is so much more he wants to do and see. Therefore he wants to survive. After hearing that the tears that I held back just came down. I can't believe I'm waisting my young years doing nothing while I have the chance to do everything I want. I will value my life more and make it worth the while. I will spend my life doing what I want and seeing what I want to see. For me, and for the young people who can't. I have learned a lot today.

This should be talked about in school’s history classes.

24:13 "open this gate! Kids were killed while waiting. They waited and died." "The kids were killed waiting. Don't tell me to wait." This basicaly breaks my heart.

My heart goes out to the parents who have to constantly relive this horrendous experience in their memories. It makes it all the worst knowing that nothing was done in a everything could have been done to save these students/people. How can people be so evil and mean! How can people devalue the life if another human! My heart is so shattered. 😔

I can’t believe the civilian divers did more good than the country’s rescue team

The statement at the beginning when the girl says "those that listened to instruction died and those that didn't lived." I felt that, along with other statements. Those kids were doing as they were told and died being obedient and that breaks my heart. If they were given the opposite instructions most if not all of them could have survived. That hurts.

“The ones who didn’t listen were the ones who survived” that gave me chills😣

I literally cried after watching this video, I tried to stay strong but I couldn't control my emotions, it is so sad how all those young people had their lives cut short due to the carelessness of others. May their souls find eternal peace

I am Korean and around 2014 when this had happened, i was in South Korea. Watching this incident happen before my eyes through video clips and videos being reported and broadcasted absolutely tore me up. Watching those students obediently following a selfish captain's orders when they couldve been saved enrages me. Im not close with anyone on this ship but the fact that they were around the same age as me just upsets me. I still cry to this day watching those videos. RIP to all of those who have passed. RIP to the couple who also passed away, dying together. 🎗️

“So no one is left in the cabins?” “No, they escaped when it started tilting” “So we can presume there is almost no one on the ferry then?” “Yes, yes” Lies. Disgusting. The STAGED RESCUE was even more disgusting 💀

The diver who he did his job and found around 30 bodies suffered so much to the point he attempted suicide and There is captain saying I dont remember anything with that shameless face. May all those who died rest in peace in Heaven.

I actually started to tear up watching this, my heart goes out to all of the victims who died, and to the survivors and families of the victims.

i cried watching this. i was 12 when this happened and didn't think much about it because i had no idea how bad the entire situation was. i thought it was merely a tragic accident, but it turns out all the kids could have been saved. i'm broken.

UPDATE: This documentary is currently nominated for an Oscar under the category of best documentary (short subject). Hopefully this nomination will help raise awareness for the fight that still continues on nearly six years after the disaster.

I feel actually sick, this is murder. Just murder.

As a mom myself I cried 5 mins in the video, I pray for the lives lost and the lives that stayed just to mourn forever

Even almost 10 years later, how everything happened still disgusts me deeply and fills me with sorrow to my core. They had their priorities so screwed up. "Any agent who steps on deck will be a hero." "What a shame. We should've gone earlier and made a good scene." They were so concerned with a good image and saving face that they let hundreds of children preventably die for it. How could you have the gall to ask people to trust in and follow authority ever again, when these are the people in positions of authority? A captain leaves the vessel last and a nation's leader does not "laze around" or "play hooky" when their citizens are dying - that's for immature teenagers, not for adults who are responsible for others' lives. Park Geunhye should've stayed in prison and rotted there, together with all the other lazy, complacent, neglectful sacks of hot air who made it come to this.

"the ship is tilting a lot.... Miss you dad" I cried a lot

I still can't believe the Captain just rescued himself without putting the passengers first.

It angers me how there seemed to be so much time to help the students. And the captain. Truly a tragedy we will never forget.

I remember being on that ferry I’m one of the 75 students who survived I was so scared at that time I rarely could breath holding my best friend hand who died I will never forgive the captain for doing this

They’re watching them drown they’re watching these children drown and the only question was. “Is there a camera there yet?”

i have nothing but respect for the divers. imagine going into dark deep water alone and all of a sudden a body passes you

I watched half this video and can’t go any further. When it is your life on the line, don’t listen to anyone telling you to stay still.

I can't even imagine being in a position like this. The fact that the adults probably escaped while telling students to stay put is crazy. Insanity.

What a horrible way to die, slowly drowning under cold dark water surrounded by your terrified classmates. May all of these children rest in peace.

So the captain just basically LEFT, he left the students there. He left them in order for him to live? This is murder, a MURDER.

The way the Korean government lied about all passenger's being evacuated is gut wrenching. This tragedy traumatised many parents and more, may the souls of the children rest in peace

1. Thanks for the very comprehensive video with timeline. The little texts are just heartbreaking. 2. The crew is ridiculous. By the time a decision was made, the ship was essentially submerged. Hope this incompetence never happens again.

The fact that the fisherman's boat was the one rescuing them just showed how much the rescue team failed to be there for the passengers

The most terrifying thing about this disaster is the Capitan.... he deliberately let those kids to die... and the fact that this could have been avoided with one simple announcement... It's all so heart breaking...

Just rewatching it again after years. Immediately got goosebumps… those memories and what they went theough - indescribable…. What a sad sad story 😭😭😭 Rest in peace for the beloved ones ❤️

Just Turned 10 Years ago, Will Forever Remain a Sad Tragedy, R.I.P to everyone who Sadly Passed away on that Disaster day. 😢

"Pretend to do it at least because the president is watching" how sickening, all of the people who's involved should be in jail

The S. Korean emergency response seems almost non-existant. These people had over 48 hours to attempt rescue yet never did. That makes it murder in my opinion.

Salute to all the civil divers 🙋‍♀️

I don't know why I come back to this but I'm in tears again, how in todays age could this happen.

"we should have landed on the ship earlier and made a good scene. its a shame." ....wow

This absolutely needs to be brought to more people's attention.

This so heartbreaking, couldn't stop crying. I feel hurt for the students and the diver who lost their lives. The kids waited patiently to be rescued as they followed orders to stay put but to no avail. I offer my sincerest condolences to their families. It's so sickening how the government and coast officials did not put much effort in rescuing people. They focused rather on 'camera' and wasted time which caused deaths. Shame on them. The civilian divers/rescuers have way better judgement and character. I applaud their bravery and kindness.

I got chills at the start of this. It’s so heart breaking to hear about this, to see their parents crying and maybe regretting what they told their child/children. Everything about this is so sad 😭

The guy who managed to save a kid is the true hero.

This incident tells us that, sometimes, disobeying orders will make you survive.

Wow, that was hard to watch. My heart goes out to all of them.

Utterly heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the families.

21:17 "I remember everything with acute pain. I cannot forget. But how come you, the elites of the society, claim that you don't know and you don't remember?"

The fact that so many people died because of laziness and such incompetence

I'm crying again. So heartbreaking.

i watch the video very minimally because every time i do i cry

civilian diver: only if they saved the kids but they didnt all they did was just report the situation this is breaking my heart

It kills me that the civilian diver felt more guilt than the ones who could have did more. Those weren’t his demons to live with or die with.

Just Thank you!!

This whole thing just hurts and makes Me question a lotta things- RIP to those souls💔

The water was calm. Those deaths were avoidable. But those authorities didn't do anything to save them. Disgusting. This is so heartbreaking.

"So no passenger is left in the ferry?" "Yes, people escaped as the ship started to tilt. We didn't search the cabins but it seems most of them are out" What the heck? for real?

How infuriating is this! To deliberately send these young people to their deaths, is pure greed -- it's evil!! Heartbreaking and infuriating!! 😢💔

I cried so hard I dont think I can celebrate my birthday the same again after watching this VIDEO, I pray for all the students Children you Will NEVER be forgotten I Will always light a candle for ALL of you always remember your parents Love you so much.

Kim Gwan-Hong was a true hero, and he and the other civilian divers deserve maximum praise and respect. They exceeded basic humanity and pushed themselves beyond. I am truly humbled.

The fact that 90% of the ferry was still on surface yet they still decided to keep those people inside until it fully submerged is incomprehensible. How sickening and disgusting.

I don’t know how but it started with watching this to watching full on documentaries about it. Rest in peace to everyone who died You will forever be missed🕊️❤️

Not a lot of things make me cry over the internet… this here this makes me me completely break

This is heartbreaking on so many levels. That girl who said “only those who disobey the orders usually survive” didn’t know how right she was. They all just sat there and drowned while the captain fled...why weren’t they evacuated??!!!??

"Please don't move" The only reason why the students died and got stuck in the boat

21:09 Literally how could they just say they don't know or they don't remember? It is heartbreaking to hear those authorities say them easily

My tears will never stop for the students divers and parents