MV Sewol Ferry Disaster Memorials Part 1

Sujin Kim (Class 1)

Sujin Kim was born on the 8th of February, 1998. She was 16 when she died.

Sujin was the youngest of three sisters, and soon gained the nickname 'Susan' from them. They also teased her for her big eyes, and it looked like they were open when she was sleeping. It's said her heart was much prettier than she herself, and was more mature than her two sisters combined. Sujin still had good relationships with both of them, and they'd often eat at restaurants together. She also knew how to love people. She saved up her money, and never asked for trendy clothes. Sujin had a lot of friends, but spent her free time at hagwons instead. She also had a boyfriend, Jeongin Lee from class 7 whom she loved very much. Sujin also loved chocolate, and absolutely hated cameras, she usually avoided them, but sometimes she had a panic attack. She also loved the k-pop group EXO and Detective Conan. Sujin asked her father to go and buy new clothes with her the day before the trip. Her dad thought this was odd, since she had never asked for clothes, but went anyway. The day remains precious in his memory, the last day with his daughter... Sujin's ultimate dream was to become a cook, because she cooked the best rice and kimchi.

When the bodies were retrieved, the divers found that Sujin had tied her wrist together with her boyfriend Jeongin with strings. Only Sujin was wearing a life jacket. The divers of course tried to get Jeongin back to the surface, but he didn't move. They tried getting Sujin, and she moved. They dragged Jeongin behind her. They had faced reality, and knew they weren't going to live for another hour. They wanted to stay inseperatable, even if they died. It's possible that Jeongin might remain missing if they hadn't done it, because he wasn't wearing a life jacket.

Her body was recovered and returned to her parents. She now rests at Hwaseong Sky Memorial Park.

"Now I can't see it, I can't see it, I can't hold it, but what can I do?
What about my daughter who picked me up at the bus stop after hagwon?
Should we meet in heaven?
Please forgive the ugly mom and dad who couldn't do anything at Pangmok Port in Jindo and rolled their feet.
And when Mom and Dad go to heaven to see Sujin, will you meet me with a pretty smile?
My daughter is nice, so I'm sure she will be there, right?"

Sujin with her friends.

A painting by Hong Sun Dam. Representing how she was found with Jeongin.

Sujin with her friends..again. She is the last on the right, first row. The first in the back might be Minhee Kim, and the second on the left on the first row looks like Eunhwa Jo.