After the Sewol ferry crashed, families, friends, relatives and numerous South Korean citizens were desperately hoping for remaining survivors. The entire nation was frantically hoping for the DanWon high school students’ safe return. These people that were waiting for their loved ones to return had no idea if their child, friend, or cousin, was still crying to be rescued. To add to their sorrows, there was nothing that they could do but to just wait, to hope to hear the name of the next identified body be their own child’s. In spite of these events, someone had the idea to use the yellow ribbon to show their hope and support for the safe return of the students who were still not found. It symbolized the solidarity of the missing teenagers’ families and friends, and hopes that some of those students who were on the ship might still return home alive. This approach quickly caught on with the rest of the people like a wildfire. A picture of a bold yellow ribbon with a line of Korean written underneath reading, “One small step, big miracle,” was used in media, especially in social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Kakaotalk (a Korean instant messenger app).
Instantly this yellow ribbon became a sensation in Korea. Celebrities joined by posting the image of a yellow ribbon on Twitter, changing their profile pictures to a yellow ribbon on Facebook, asking their fans to join the movement, and etc. Korean citizens not only wanted to support the families of the missing students, but also offer a hopeful message to the Korean public that the missing passengers could still be found alive. Outside of the social media, people showed support in various ways. Clusters of real ribbons sprung up around the cities, such as Seoul and Chuncheon, with messages and tributes written on them. A local soccer team, FC Seoul, also displayed their support by donning yellow ribbons on them during a soccer game. In addition, numerous organizations and individuals used the yellow ribbon as a rallying point to raise donations for the families who were grieving or anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones. After the SeWol disaster, yellow ribbons became a remembrance for the tragic incident and a symbol of condolences and yearning among the Korean people.
Instantly this yellow ribbon became a sensation in Korea. Celebrities joined by posting the image of a yellow ribbon on Twitter, changing their profile pictures to a yellow ribbon on Facebook, asking their fans to join the movement, and etc. Korean citizens not only wanted to support the families of the missing students, but also offer a hopeful message to the Korean public that the missing passengers could still be found alive. Outside of the social media, people showed support in various ways. Clusters of real ribbons sprung up around the cities, such as Seoul and Chuncheon, with messages and tributes written on them. A local soccer team, FC Seoul, also displayed their support by donning yellow ribbons on them during a soccer game. In addition, numerous organizations and individuals used the yellow ribbon as a rallying point to raise donations for the families who were grieving or anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones. After the SeWol disaster, yellow ribbons became a remembrance for the tragic incident and a symbol of condolences and yearning among the Korean people.