“Hoping small actions bring great miracles” — Korean netizens tie yellow ribbons to pray for Sewol victims

▲On the eighth day of the Sewol ferry tragedy, netizens have initiated a yellow ribbon campaign to pray for the missing. (Photo / Screenshot from Facebook)

Reporter Chen Ziying / Comprehensive report

It has been eight days since the Sewol ferry sank in South Korea. The death toll has now risen to 150, with 152 people still missing. In recent days, Korean netizens have launched a yellow ribbon prayer campaign on social media. Facebook users have been changing their profile pictures to images of yellow ribbons — yellow backgrounds with black bows in the center and the words “small actions bring great miracles” written on them, praying for the safe return of the missing passengers.

It is understood that the yellow ribbon campaign was initiated by members of ALT (Association of University Students), comprising students from Seoul National University, Korea University, Konkuk University, and Chung-Ang University. The yellow ribbon mainly symbolizes “waiting for loved ones who have left home to return.” During earlier wartime periods, it was also commonly used as an anti-war symbol. The old song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” describes a wife waiting for her husband to return from prison, tying yellow ribbons all over the tree in front of their home. To this day, the yellow ribbon carries strong connotations of waiting. Korean students are using the ribbons to pray and wait for their fellow citizens affected by the disaster to return safely.


▲“A small action may also bring a miracle. We are praying and waiting for you to come back.” Different yellow ribbon images share the same heart — waiting for a miracle and hoping for a safe return. (Photo / Screenshot from Facebook)