<S (Silent). Korea>

    <S.(Silent) Korea> is  52-minute video installation that meticulously curates a decade-long chronicle of the Sewol Ferry tragedy, a devastating maritime disaster that claimed the lives of 304 people, primarily high school students, on April 16, 2014. The director of this video was in the same year in high school as the students on the ferry back in 2014. This tragedy unfolded due to the glaring inadequacy of the South Korean government and the critical misinformation disseminated by major public news outlets, which initially and falsely reported that the students were safe.

    The video is a silent testament to the disillusionment with mainstream media and governmental incompetence. The first half of the film presents yearly broadcasts from 2014 to 2018, showcasing news anchors as they grapple with evolving narratives, discovering new facts only to contradict themselves the following year. By stripping away all verbal communication, the film underscores the futility and unreliability of the spoken word, reflecting the creator's profound distrust in these institutions.

    Transitioning to the latter half, the footage from 2019 to 2024 shifts focus to remembrance ceremonies. Here, family members of the victims and politicians take the stage, their voices also removed, symbolizing the deaf ears of the government and the apathy of the public towards this ongoing sorrow.

    Through its stark silence, "Echoes of Silence" invites viewers to reflect on the tragic consequences of misinformation and governmental failure, evoking a deep, personal contemplation on the Sewol Ferry tragedy and its enduring impact on South Korean society.