Yellow Ribbon Campaign and Sewol Ferry Protest Movement information

Following the Sewol Ferry sinking on 16 April 2014, yellow ribbons became a prevalent symbol in South Korea, its significance evolving from hopes of return and mourning to activism and democratization. Historically, yellow colored ribbons were used as a symbol of support for military troops in Western countries including the U.S., Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, its usage mainly signifying hopes of someone's safe return.^[1] During the 1980s, the yellow ribbons were adopted in the Philippines as a symbol of democratization, which inspired South Korea to use the symbol for democratization as well.^[1] When the Sewol Ferry capsized off South Korea's southern coast near Jindo County on 16 April 2014, the yellow ribbon quickly became a widespread symbol online symbolizing hopes of return of the passengers.^[2] However, once it became clear that the victims would not be coming back, citizens began questioning the competency of the government. The significance of the yellow ribbon evolved from symbolizing public remembrance and sympathy to defiance against the government, activism and protest culture, and democratization.^[1] As a result of the apolitical symbol's transformation into a political one, the color yellow quickly became a topic of contention. Regardless, tiny yellow ribbons circulated widely all over South Korea, both virtually through social media and physically through portable items and at significant sites.^[3] Yellow ribbons, in tandem with other yellow-colored items, came to define spaces of protest and political resistance among progressive activists in South Korea.^[1]