MV Sewol Ferry Disaster Memorials Part 1

Songhee Kim (Class 10)

Songhee Kim was born on the 10th of July, 1997. She was 16 when she died.

Songhee was the eldest child, later getting a younger sister. She was the first granddaughter to her grandparents, and they absolutely adored her. Songhee in return, adored her mother a lot. They had described her eyes as very doll like. Her family had lived at Jeju Island, but they moved away. Songhee missed her home, and escaped there when she was a sixth grader, later getting sent back home by the police. Songhee's mother had an incurable disease, myasthenia grav, which saddened her, but she stayed strong. She was very caring, and rarely argued with anyone. She was friends with Danbi Lee from the same class. Songhee never asked for money, and walked 40 minutes to school because she couldn't afford taking the bus. She worked part-time at a restaurant. Her mother felt sorry for her for doing all that, and she couldn't even support her own daughter financinally. Songhee had thoughts of becoming a model, but she really wanted a career in the computing field so she could take care of her mother. She even promised her that she would never marry anyone, she'd live with her.

Hearing about the trip bringed Songhee the awful memories from back when she ran away, and didn't want to go on the trip. She eventually decided to go just for her friends. When her body was retrieved, her uncle was the first one to see her. She was wearing that one necklace she never took off. He thought it was weird that the upper part of her hand was fine, but down it was swollen. This would've not been possible without water. It's likely that Songhee had lived in an airpocket, and either drowned, froze or starved. But that's too painful to think about.

Songhee was also interested in poetry, and had written a poem about her mother before leaving:

Wonder Woman in colorful clothes
My Wonder Woman Is Wearing a Belt
Tighten your belt
Wonder woman in my house that collects a penny and buys my clothes
Clothes with perforated faces
Wonder Woman at my house asking if there is anything needed

Wonder Woman defeats the villain in the movie
My Wonder Woman who defeats a villain that annoys me
Not a wonder woman who protects the world
A strong wonder woman who protects her family
Not a hero, my mom.

Her body was recovered and returned to her family. She now rests at Pyeongtaek Lakeside Memorial Park.

Her memorial.....