Movies Similar to Sewol: Paused in Time

K-Family Affairs(2025)

In her first feature-length documentary, filmmaker Nam Arum turns her camera on her parents, two members of South Korea’s 386 Generation. The political activism of this generation came to a head in June 1987 with major protests that forced the authoritarian government to hold universal suffrage elections and implement key democratic reforms. Over 35 years later, the filmmaker reflects on the state of this democracy through a warm-hearted family portrait set against the backdrop of the country’s recent history. Using a personal and intimate cinematic style, Arum examines her father's adherence to conventionality as a high-ranking civil servant and her mother's fervent enthusiasm as a feminist activist. In the midst of these two contrasting dynamics, Arum seeks to discover her own role and how she can contribute to social change.

President′s 7 Hours(2019)

The film traces PARK Geun-hye's life back to the 1970s, when the leader-follower relationship began between PARK, who became the first lady of the Yushin regime, and CHOI Taemin, the leader of a pseudo-religion. It then examines the Sewol ferry incident, CHOI Soonsil Gate, candlelight rallies, and finally the impeachment.

Upside Down(2016)

304 people drowned as the car ferry sank. Four fathers recall their memories of their children; high school students who were on their field trip. Professors, lawyers, journalists, an activist, a diver, and a politician explain why the system ultimately allowed the tragedy to occur. What is stopping the next tragedy? The world has turned upside down.

Intention(2018)

A documentary that scientifically analyses and tracks down the route of the Sewol Ferry that sank on the 16th of April in 2014 using its AIS to discover the cause of the unconfirmed sinking.

Ghost Ship(2020)

A thousand lies to conceal the truth of the Sewol Ferry. As many as 1,000 ships, 160,000 AIS data, were manipulated to hide the truth behind the sinking of the Sewol Ferry on April 16, 2014. Who are the organizers of this and why did they build a ghost ship! We must ask persistent questions. Since that day, nothing has been revealed yet. Government AIS data of a thousand lies. Now it is time for the Korean prosecution to answer.

Cruel State(2015)

In April 2014, the entire nation of South Korea watched on television live as The Sewol capsized off the coast of Jindo. The tragedy left life-long wounds in the hearts of people whose family and friends had been among the 304 passengers killed. The majority of the victims were high school students on a school trip. Their parents were not even given the luxury of grieving, as they had to camp out in front of the Parliament, City Hall and the Presidential House, asking for only one thing - to know the truth about why their children had been left to die. But after more than a year, that truth has yet to be brought to light. This film is a documentation of the year-long struggle and painful soul-searching of people destined to be labelled as 'bereaved families' for the rest of their lives, as they come face to face with the naked face of their cruel country.

The Talent Show(2023)

Middle-aged women start acting and launch a drama club. However, nothing big or small goes right. But they never give up the play.

In the Absence(2018)

When the MV Sewol ferry sank off the coast of South Korea in 2014, over three hundred people lost their lives, most of them schoolchildren. Years later, the victims’ families and survivors are still demanding justice from national authorities.

Life Goes On(2024)

Yoo Kyung-geun, who lost her daughter Ye-eun in the Sewol Ferry Disaster, sits down at the podcast production studio. It is to meet with the bereaved families of numerous social disasters before and after the Sewol Ferry Disaster. They are Hwang Myung-ae, the mother of Han Sang-im who died in the 2003 Daegu Subway Fire, Ko Seok, the father of Gahyun and Nahyun who died in the 1999 Sealand Youth Training Center Fire, and Bae Eunsim, the mother of Lee Hanyeol who died in 1987's June Struggle. The bereaved families talk about "the life after" and their daily lives, and Yoo Kyung-geun learns to live without Ye-eun.

After Diving Bell(2018)

A documentary that reports on the the rescue failure of the Sewol incident. In the days of media control, Park Geun-hye and her government sabotaged the screening of "Diving Bell" at the Busan International Film Festival.

10 Years After the Sinking, Zero-Sum(2024)

Ten years ago, 304 innocent people aboard the Sewol ferry in Korea lost their lives at sea. The reason for the sinking and the complete failure of the rescue are crucial factors yet to be revealed. But the government continues to withhold key evidence, citing national security reasons. This documentary finds a conclusion of why all the matters have gone wrong.

Yellow Ribbon(2021)

The Truth Shall Not Sink with Sewol(2014)

A documentary on the South Korean ferry disaster that claimed the lives of more than 300 passengers in April, 2014.

Reset(2025)

On April 16th, 2014, the Sewol Ferry sank in South Korea, taking with it the lives of 304 of its 476 passengers. South Korea's worst maritime disaster traumatized a nation while simultaneously sinking the country's emotional spirit. The film asks why the rescue of Korea's children and people was neglected on the fateful day the Sewol sank.

After the Sewol(2017)

On the 16th April 2014 South Korea was changed as a nation. After the days, weeks and months that followed the Sewol tragedy, the country became undone, untrusting and more divided than we have ever seen in its history. "After the Sewol" explores the changing faces of this nation through the eyes of two British film makers. They talk with relatives of the victims, rescue divers and activists about their struggles and battles since this tragic accident happened and embark upon a journey to uncover how this accident came about, looking deep into Korean history about why no action was taken to prevent it in the first place. This journey takes them all over Korea, meeting an older generation struggling to create a safer place for their children to live in and a young vibrant generation fighting for a corrupt free society.But, all of them searching for one thing, the truth about why the Sewol victims died.

Three Sides to Every Story(2024)

This documentary tells the story of people who were at the scene of the 2014 Sewol Ferry disaster: journalists, bereaved families of the victims, and the survivors. Ten years after the disaster, what did it leave them? These are three omnibus documentaries with different perspectives.

Forgetting and Remembering(2016)

Forgetting and Remembering 2 : reflection(2017)

Crossroads(2019)

Crossroads explores the ever changing face of South Korea since the Sewol ferry disaster that tragically killed 304 people, mainly schoolchildren, in April 2014. The film takes us on a journey through Korean modern history exploring the changes the country has gone through since April 16th 2014, encompassing emotional re-enactment narrations from survivors, interviews with family members, activists, historians and the general public, as we go in search of how Korea came to yet another crossroad in its history.

SEWOL: Years in the Wind(2024)

The 10-year struggle of the families who lost their children from the Sewol Ferry Disaster.