Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said on the 16th, "We will never forget the (Sewol) victims and will build a strong community together with the local community so that the bereaved families do not feel socially isolated."
At a memorial service marking the 12th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster held that morning at a plaza near the memorial hall for civilian victims of the Sewol at Incheon Family Park, Mayor Yoo stated accordingly, "As we greet the twelfth spring, we are reminded of that day. We will remember the pain of that day and not forget its lessons."
The memorial service was hosted by the 4/16 Foundation. The bereaved families of the victims attended, along with Mayor Yoo and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung.
The government plans to hold the "12th National Safety Day commemoration ceremony" at the Sejong Government Convention Center in the afternoon to honor the victims.
After the Sewol ferry disaster, the government designated Apr. 16 every year as "National Safety Day" to reaffirm the importance of safety and raise public safety awareness, and has held a commemoration ceremony since 2015.
At the venue, a separate space was set up to introduce major policies in the disaster and safety field, as well as award-winning photos from a photo contest and outstanding entries from children's safety journals. Hands-on safety education that teaches children how to respond on their own in dangerous situations will run through the 18th.