The recent, tragic accident of the Sewol ferry, which claimed hundreds of lives, engulfed the nation with a sense of remorse and sorrow. Over a month has passed since then, and many are still resentful. Some blame the authorities, from the Coast Guard to relevant ministries, while others criticize the outdated and ineffective system. But, we should rise up from playing the blame game to conduct a “logical, heartfelt analysis and systematic reform,” so that the deaths of fellow Koreans are not in vain.

Chonghaejin Marine Co. is reportedly involved in numerous crimes related to corruption. The de facto owner of the company has been accused of tax evasion, embezzlement and leading a Christian cult. The sunken Sewol ferry was overloaded compared to its capacity and size. The captain and many crewmembers of the ship quickly took flight, leaving passengers in a plight. Such actions have led to the tragic loss of hundreds of innocent lives. The ferry disaster clearly underscored the need to strengthen law enforcement. Moreover, it also shone a light upon Koreans’ notorious trait of doing things quickly (or “ppalli ppalli,” in Korean).

In actuality, the ppalli ppalli spirit brought about the “Miracle on the Han River,” restoring the devastated nation in the aftermath of the Korean War. However, the moral hazards of breaking the law, along with the “faster is better” mentality, are seeds of our deeply engrained obsession with completing tasks hastily by any means. Such a national trait has resulted in many accidents that were preventable. What’s more, accidents and tragedies are bound to continue occurring if this mentality is left unchecked.

Strictly speaking, the blame, as far as regulations go, goes to a broader group of parties. The ferry company and crew were responsible for mismanagement on the human level, but the lack of tighter regulations and poor emergency management magnified the already bad situation.

There is a familiar saying: “Mend the barn after the horse is stolen.” This is sadly true for the Sewol ferry accident. It is a time for the nation to undergo drastic renewal of its system and mindset. Changes always involve extreme pain, but not doing so in fear of the pain will bring more pain. As a larva breaks out of its shell to become a beautiful butterfly, embracing the growing pains to pass on a more advanced and mature society to the next generation is a noble idea. So, let’s remember and remind one another: No pain, no gain. 

By Ji-Hyun Diana Kim

Ji-Hyun Diana Kim is an interpreter and English instructor at Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants Ltd., an infrastructure engineering consultancy firm in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. ― Ed.