Kang Hyeok was born on April 4, 1997. He was a member of the 10th grade class #4 at Danwon High School in Ansan, South Korea. He lived for 17 years and 12 days.
Hyeok was a bright, happy child, but he grew to be more somber as he got older. He went through a lot of stress because of school and retreated into himself to cope. His parents saw this happening and were saddened, but they always made sure to smile for Hyeok and show him as much love and kindness as they could. Despite his sadness, Hyeok was a polite, kind boy. He loved to spend time with his friends, dancing and playing soccer, and his friends said that they saw a totally different side of Hyeok when he was with them: funny, sweet and upbeat. Hyeok normally refused to go on school field trips. He didn't like them for some reason, and was always allowed to skip out on them. However, his parents made him go on one field trip. As it turns out, they so wish they would have listened to him and let him stay home.
Hyeok was a victim of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. The ferry Sewol was en route to Jeju Island from Incheon, South Korea, when it capsized on April 16, 2014. The majority of the 476 people on board were 10th graders from Danwon High School who were traveling to Jeju Island for a school field trip. When the ship started to sink, the crew ordered everyone to stay in their cabins and await help. Hyeok and most of the Danwon students on board obeyed the crew and remained in their cabins, passing the time by taking pictures and joking around with their friends. However, the coast guard only rescued those who'd come out on deck and didn't even attempt to rescue anyone inside the ship. The Korean government, ashamed at how the event unfolded, blocked volunteer rescuers and made excuses as to why rescue efforts could not continue. By the time they started recovery efforts, they were only finding bodies. There were hundreds of high schoolers, teachers and other passengers inside the ship and not a single one of them survived. The majority of them were still alive during the three hours it took for the Sewol to sink, recording videos of their ordeal and banging on the windows, begging to be saved - but they all eventually drowned or died of hypothermia. Those kids had trusted adults with their lives and were literally left to die. 304 people died in total, with 250 of them being Danwon High School students. The Sewol Ferry sinking was one of the most heartbreaking and senseless maritime tragedies to have ever happened. The students’ loved ones are still looking for answers as to why those 250 beautiful children had to die…and those answers may never come.
Hyeok's body was recovered, and he is now resting at the Ansan Sky Memorial Park.
Thank you to Rhonda for sponsoring Hyeok's memorial!
Hyeok was a bright, happy child, but he grew to be more somber as he got older. He went through a lot of stress because of school and retreated into himself to cope. His parents saw this happening and were saddened, but they always made sure to smile for Hyeok and show him as much love and kindness as they could. Despite his sadness, Hyeok was a polite, kind boy. He loved to spend time with his friends, dancing and playing soccer, and his friends said that they saw a totally different side of Hyeok when he was with them: funny, sweet and upbeat. Hyeok normally refused to go on school field trips. He didn't like them for some reason, and was always allowed to skip out on them. However, his parents made him go on one field trip. As it turns out, they so wish they would have listened to him and let him stay home.
Hyeok was a victim of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. The ferry Sewol was en route to Jeju Island from Incheon, South Korea, when it capsized on April 16, 2014. The majority of the 476 people on board were 10th graders from Danwon High School who were traveling to Jeju Island for a school field trip. When the ship started to sink, the crew ordered everyone to stay in their cabins and await help. Hyeok and most of the Danwon students on board obeyed the crew and remained in their cabins, passing the time by taking pictures and joking around with their friends. However, the coast guard only rescued those who'd come out on deck and didn't even attempt to rescue anyone inside the ship. The Korean government, ashamed at how the event unfolded, blocked volunteer rescuers and made excuses as to why rescue efforts could not continue. By the time they started recovery efforts, they were only finding bodies. There were hundreds of high schoolers, teachers and other passengers inside the ship and not a single one of them survived. The majority of them were still alive during the three hours it took for the Sewol to sink, recording videos of their ordeal and banging on the windows, begging to be saved - but they all eventually drowned or died of hypothermia. Those kids had trusted adults with their lives and were literally left to die. 304 people died in total, with 250 of them being Danwon High School students. The Sewol Ferry sinking was one of the most heartbreaking and senseless maritime tragedies to have ever happened. The students’ loved ones are still looking for answers as to why those 250 beautiful children had to die…and those answers may never come.
Hyeok's body was recovered, and he is now resting at the Ansan Sky Memorial Park.
Thank you to Rhonda for sponsoring Hyeok's memorial!
Kang Hyeok was born on April 4, 1997. He was a member of the 10th grade class #4 at Danwon High School in Ansan, South Korea. He lived for 17 years and 12 days.
Hyeok was a bright, happy child, but he grew to be more somber as he got older. He went through a lot of stress because of school and retreated into himself to cope. His parents saw this happening and were saddened, but they always made sure to smile for Hyeok and show him as much love and kindness as they could. Despite his sadness, Hyeok was a polite, kind boy. He loved to spend time with his friends, dancing and playing soccer, and his friends said that they saw a totally different side of Hyeok when he was with them: funny, sweet and upbeat. Hyeok normally refused to go on school field trips. He didn't like them for some reason, and was always allowed to skip out on them. However, his parents made him go on one field trip. As it turns out, they so wish they would have listened to him and let him stay home.
Hyeok was a victim of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. The ferry Sewol was en route to Jeju Island from Incheon, South Korea, when it capsized on April 16, 2014. The majority of the 476 people on board were 10th graders from Danwon High School who were traveling to Jeju Island for a school field trip. When the ship started to sink, the crew ordered everyone to stay in their cabins and await help. Hyeok and most of the Danwon students on board obeyed the crew and remained in their cabins, passing the time by taking pictures and joking around with their friends. However, the coast guard only rescued those who'd come out on deck and didn't even attempt to rescue anyone inside the ship. The Korean government, ashamed at how the event unfolded, blocked volunteer rescuers and made excuses as to why rescue efforts could not continue. By the time they started recovery efforts, they were only finding bodies. There were hundreds of high schoolers, teachers and other passengers inside the ship and not a single one of them survived. The majority of them were still alive during the three hours it took for the Sewol to sink, recording videos of their ordeal and banging on the windows, begging to be saved - but they all eventually drowned or died of hypothermia. Those kids had trusted adults with their lives and were literally left to die. 304 people died in total, with 250 of them being Danwon High School students. The Sewol Ferry sinking was one of the most heartbreaking and senseless maritime tragedies to have ever happened. The students’ loved ones are still looking for answers as to why those 250 beautiful children had to die…and those answers may never come.
Hyeok's body was recovered, and he is now resting at the Ansan Sky Memorial Park.
Thank you to Rhonda for sponsoring Hyeok's memorial!
Hyeok was a bright, happy child, but he grew to be more somber as he got older. He went through a lot of stress because of school and retreated into himself to cope. His parents saw this happening and were saddened, but they always made sure to smile for Hyeok and show him as much love and kindness as they could. Despite his sadness, Hyeok was a polite, kind boy. He loved to spend time with his friends, dancing and playing soccer, and his friends said that they saw a totally different side of Hyeok when he was with them: funny, sweet and upbeat. Hyeok normally refused to go on school field trips. He didn't like them for some reason, and was always allowed to skip out on them. However, his parents made him go on one field trip. As it turns out, they so wish they would have listened to him and let him stay home.
Hyeok was a victim of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. The ferry Sewol was en route to Jeju Island from Incheon, South Korea, when it capsized on April 16, 2014. The majority of the 476 people on board were 10th graders from Danwon High School who were traveling to Jeju Island for a school field trip. When the ship started to sink, the crew ordered everyone to stay in their cabins and await help. Hyeok and most of the Danwon students on board obeyed the crew and remained in their cabins, passing the time by taking pictures and joking around with their friends. However, the coast guard only rescued those who'd come out on deck and didn't even attempt to rescue anyone inside the ship. The Korean government, ashamed at how the event unfolded, blocked volunteer rescuers and made excuses as to why rescue efforts could not continue. By the time they started recovery efforts, they were only finding bodies. There were hundreds of high schoolers, teachers and other passengers inside the ship and not a single one of them survived. The majority of them were still alive during the three hours it took for the Sewol to sink, recording videos of their ordeal and banging on the windows, begging to be saved - but they all eventually drowned or died of hypothermia. Those kids had trusted adults with their lives and were literally left to die. 304 people died in total, with 250 of them being Danwon High School students. The Sewol Ferry sinking was one of the most heartbreaking and senseless maritime tragedies to have ever happened. The students’ loved ones are still looking for answers as to why those 250 beautiful children had to die…and those answers may never come.
Hyeok's body was recovered, and he is now resting at the Ansan Sky Memorial Park.
Thank you to Rhonda for sponsoring Hyeok's memorial!
Gravesite Details
Name pronunciation: Gahng Hyuhk
