News of the death of five high school students participating in a Marine Corps-style camp was shocking enough to break the hearts of all Koreans, including mine. We all hoped they would come back to their classmates and family members, but the Yellow Sea's chilly tidal wave engulfed their bodies, and eventually, swept away the five ill-fated, precious lives.
I sincerely lament their premature deaths from the bottom of my heart and hope that bereaved families and grieving classmates will overcome their deep sorrow as soon as possible.
As the entire story of this tragic incident is revealed, people's sense of loss and mourning is now giving way to that of resentment. It turned out that not only were camp instructors merely untrained part-timers who lacked basic knowledge about unexpected emergencies, but they also didn't take any proper action when the students were floundering in the seas in panic.
Worse yet, the disaster could have been prevented if the instructors had not recklessly have them jump into the sea, or at least ordered them to use life vests as a precautionary measure.
The phrase "man-made disaster" has always been on our lips. As I said, this tragedy could have been avoided if they had not turned a deaf ear to the residents' warnings that the beach is a dangerous place in which swimming is not allowed because of the heavy currents. On top of that, everyone knows that walking on a mud flat during a changing tide is no safer than swimming through rough waves.
Given this, it is indisputably and abundantly clear that recklessly pressing on with any exercise near a beach, while disregarding safety rules, is nothing but a man-made disaster.
What I find more pathetic and disheartening is the instructors' improper reactions. I feel indignant over the fact that two instructors were merely standing by in embarrassment without calling 119 or reporting to Maritime Police for more than 30 minutes. Those who tried to save the students were none other than their own friends.
Among the bravest of them was Lee Byung-hak, a young but courageous student. He didn't look on the situation with folded arms. Diving into the sea with a brave heart, he saved quite a few of his friends, but to everyone's sorrow, he could not save himself from the danger. Five lives were taken from their parents and friends for good.
The military spirit, or soldier spirit, with the help of extreme situations and rigid discipline, can sometimes help people recover their second wind and offer new impetus for change.
Someone may think that esprit de corps can only be promoted when one is under rigid military discipline. In part, this is true. But what our students really need during vacation is not a military training but a little break-time or relaxation.
That being the case, we need to deeply ponder over whether military spirit is really necessary for minors. We urgently need to lock the stable door before more horses escape. It is imperative to carry out a comprehensive overhaul of the relevant laws and conduct a thorough investigation into unlicensed military camps across the nation. No more man-made disasters should claim anyone's precious lives.
Yun Joo-seong
A junior at Chungnam National University
I sincerely lament their premature deaths from the bottom of my heart and hope that bereaved families and grieving classmates will overcome their deep sorrow as soon as possible.
As the entire story of this tragic incident is revealed, people's sense of loss and mourning is now giving way to that of resentment. It turned out that not only were camp instructors merely untrained part-timers who lacked basic knowledge about unexpected emergencies, but they also didn't take any proper action when the students were floundering in the seas in panic.
Worse yet, the disaster could have been prevented if the instructors had not recklessly have them jump into the sea, or at least ordered them to use life vests as a precautionary measure.
The phrase "man-made disaster" has always been on our lips. As I said, this tragedy could have been avoided if they had not turned a deaf ear to the residents' warnings that the beach is a dangerous place in which swimming is not allowed because of the heavy currents. On top of that, everyone knows that walking on a mud flat during a changing tide is no safer than swimming through rough waves.
Given this, it is indisputably and abundantly clear that recklessly pressing on with any exercise near a beach, while disregarding safety rules, is nothing but a man-made disaster.
What I find more pathetic and disheartening is the instructors' improper reactions. I feel indignant over the fact that two instructors were merely standing by in embarrassment without calling 119 or reporting to Maritime Police for more than 30 minutes. Those who tried to save the students were none other than their own friends.
Among the bravest of them was Lee Byung-hak, a young but courageous student. He didn't look on the situation with folded arms. Diving into the sea with a brave heart, he saved quite a few of his friends, but to everyone's sorrow, he could not save himself from the danger. Five lives were taken from their parents and friends for good.
The military spirit, or soldier spirit, with the help of extreme situations and rigid discipline, can sometimes help people recover their second wind and offer new impetus for change.
Someone may think that esprit de corps can only be promoted when one is under rigid military discipline. In part, this is true. But what our students really need during vacation is not a military training but a little break-time or relaxation.
That being the case, we need to deeply ponder over whether military spirit is really necessary for minors. We urgently need to lock the stable door before more horses escape. It is imperative to carry out a comprehensive overhaul of the relevant laws and conduct a thorough investigation into unlicensed military camps across the nation. No more man-made disasters should claim anyone's precious lives.
Yun Joo-seong
A junior at Chungnam National University
