A school trip that should have been filled with laughter and unforgettable memories became one of the darkest tragedies in modern history.

Hundreds of teenagers were looking forward to an exciting journey with their classmates. Their families had trusted the adults responsible for the trip to bring them home safely. Nobody could have imagined that an ordinary ferry ride would end in unimaginable heartbreak.

The journey began on April 15, 2014, with 476 passengers and crew members aboard. Among them were 325 students from Danwon High School, travelling with their teachers.

The following morning, everything changed. At around 8:48 a.m., the ferry suddenly began leaning dangerously to one side. As the vessel tilted further, passengers struggled to move through the corridors while water entered the ship.

Many students followed instructions telling them to remain inside, believing the crew knew how to protect them. Tragically, that decision would have devastating consequences.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene, but the ferry eventually disappeared beneath the water. Only 172 people survived.

The disaster became known as the Sewol Ferry Disaster, one of South Korea’s greatest maritime tragedies. A total of 304 people lost their lives, most of them schoolchildren.