I've seen this verse in action in Korean society these past couple of months. As many of you may know, there was a horrible tragedy in Korea on April 16th as a ship sunk and around 300 passengers, mostly high school students and teachers, died on their way to a school field trip off the Korean coastline. I was obviously here during this national tragedy as the whole nation anxiously hoped for good news of rescue and then mourned the loss of so many lives, especially young lives. I got to see deeply into the heart of Korean culture, as it was a collective loss and the society visibly changed as a result of it. There was a heaviness and silence and then rage and depression felt among the Korean people. For example, the doctor's clinic I visit is usually bustling with voices as patients chat emphatically in the waiting room, but during those days as the tragedy unfolded, everyone sat in silence, eyes fixed on the TV screen, everyone holding their breath that at least one life would be saved. It was very heartbreaking to witness this tragedy that felt very close to home for me. When I looked at my students' faces, I thought of the young students who were lost; when I saw mothers and fathers on my subway, I imagined those waiting at the shore crying out their children's names, sleeping on the gym floor for days and weeks, just to trying to survive the minutes that turned into days and weeks as they waited.
Witnessing this national tragedy, gave me the opportunity to observe how the society responds to tragedy. Korea is very much a communal society, so they believe in mourning together. I think grief in western society is often privatized, creating a deeper sense of loneliness than loss already naturally brings, but here in Korea, the grief was shared among all. For example, most foreigners found it surprising and extreme, but as a result of the national tragedy all entertainment channels ceased, all 'social' events were cancelled at all schools in the country, and even Samsung sent out a notice to all employees not to golf or drink to honor the losses. As we celebrated my friend's father's birthday he said normally he loves to do karaoke on his birthday, but this year we wouldn't, because it wouldn't be right as many families were in mourning.
Here is an excerpt of one of my student's writings (from an intermediate level sophomore English class) in which she talks about the tragedy...
"If I could go back to a time and place in the place in the past, I would go Inchon and April 16th. The date is passenger ship sank. Many people were dead, and worldwide people are sad. The passenger ship is in too much young people. They are 17-18 years old. They are going to Jeju island. If I could go back to some time and place in the past, I would go back to when April 16th in Inchon, so I can save our children. I was really much crying since this accident happened. Because too much young people were dead and the dead's family is very sad. I really want to go back to this accident. If I couldn't go back to this time, I would go when maritime police rescue people. If I were maritime police, I would rescue people fast, or if I were captain or crewman, people in boat rescue first. I'm so sorry to many student didn't do their dream. I think a worldwide people sad by this disaster. If I could go back, I would rescue the people in boat."
All over Korean buildings and schools hung yellow ribbons representing hope for a miracle. Ribbons still are hung at my university entrance upon which students, faculty, and staff have written messages to the students. As painful as it was to witness this tragedy, I am thankful I was here, because it gave me a window into the heart of Korean culture. I developed a deeper love for the Korean people having experienced the emotions of this loss together and was touched having witnessed much beauty in the nation's communal response.
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