Ferry sinking survivors express fear of reporters
By Kim Da-ye
Seventy-three Danwon High School sophomores who survived the Sewol ferry accident will go back to the school Wednesday after completing a course of psychotherapy. After their ordeal, the last thing they want is attention.
"I don't like things that show I am a Danwon High School student such as the school uniform, the name tags for sophomores and gym clothes. I keep hiding because people may recognize I am a Danwon High School student," said a letter the survivors wrote together to the local community of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
On April 15, 325 sophomores went on a school trip to Jeju Island on the ferry Sewol. When the vessel sank, only 75 were rescued ― 244 are dead and six students are still missing.
According to Jung Hye-shin, a psychiatrist who treated the survivors, 73 students have stayed in a training center near the school with their parents. Two of those rescued have already returned to school. She wrote in a Facebook post that they discussed what they fear the most when they go back to school. They decided to write that in a letter and distributed it to residents in Ansan Monday.
Chung said that the students also wrote to the freshmen and seniors of Danwon High School.
The students' letter reveals that the students are even afraid of laughing in front of people.
"Whenever we think about the friends who couldn't be saved, we feel like we are committing a sin when we eat, sleep, chat and laugh," the letter said.
"We suddenly laugh after bursting into tears. We suddenly smile after feeling depressed. If you see us laughing and playing on the street, please don't think it's strange."
The students talked about what people may do unconsciously that ends up hurting them.
"I hate people's eyes fixed on me in the bus. I get nervous when I have to show my student ID in the cinema," said the letter.
The students complained that people recognized they were sophomores at Danwon High School when they commuted to and from the school and walked around the neighborhood.
They also expressed their shared fear of journalists. "We wish there were no journalists around. If journalists harass us, please chase them away. We hope Danwon High School will become a restricted area to reporters," the letter said.
Chung pointed out people's insensitivity about the victims. On her Facebook post on June 7, she talked about the mother of a dead student who was shopping in a local grocery store. She appeared normal, and heard people talking, "She must be a stepmother."
"Since then, she cannot go out anymore, so stays at home, crying alone," Chung said.
The students pleaded that they be allowed to go back to their regular lives.
"Please consider us as ordinary 18-year-old Korean girls and boys and ordinary high school sophomores. And please don't forget the ferry incident," the letter said.
By Kim Da-ye
Seventy-three Danwon High School sophomores who survived the Sewol ferry accident will go back to the school Wednesday after completing a course of psychotherapy. After their ordeal, the last thing they want is attention.
"I don't like things that show I am a Danwon High School student such as the school uniform, the name tags for sophomores and gym clothes. I keep hiding because people may recognize I am a Danwon High School student," said a letter the survivors wrote together to the local community of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
On April 15, 325 sophomores went on a school trip to Jeju Island on the ferry Sewol. When the vessel sank, only 75 were rescued ― 244 are dead and six students are still missing.
According to Jung Hye-shin, a psychiatrist who treated the survivors, 73 students have stayed in a training center near the school with their parents. Two of those rescued have already returned to school. She wrote in a Facebook post that they discussed what they fear the most when they go back to school. They decided to write that in a letter and distributed it to residents in Ansan Monday.
Chung said that the students also wrote to the freshmen and seniors of Danwon High School.
The students' letter reveals that the students are even afraid of laughing in front of people.
"Whenever we think about the friends who couldn't be saved, we feel like we are committing a sin when we eat, sleep, chat and laugh," the letter said.
"We suddenly laugh after bursting into tears. We suddenly smile after feeling depressed. If you see us laughing and playing on the street, please don't think it's strange."
The students talked about what people may do unconsciously that ends up hurting them.
"I hate people's eyes fixed on me in the bus. I get nervous when I have to show my student ID in the cinema," said the letter.
The students complained that people recognized they were sophomores at Danwon High School when they commuted to and from the school and walked around the neighborhood.
They also expressed their shared fear of journalists. "We wish there were no journalists around. If journalists harass us, please chase them away. We hope Danwon High School will become a restricted area to reporters," the letter said.
Chung pointed out people's insensitivity about the victims. On her Facebook post on June 7, she talked about the mother of a dead student who was shopping in a local grocery store. She appeared normal, and heard people talking, "She must be a stepmother."
"Since then, she cannot go out anymore, so stays at home, crying alone," Chung said.
The students pleaded that they be allowed to go back to their regular lives.
"Please consider us as ordinary 18-year-old Korean girls and boys and ordinary high school sophomores. And please don't forget the ferry incident," the letter said.
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