SEWOL: Years in the Wind
SEWOL: Years in the Wind
Mun Jong-taek takes up a camera to document the activities of the Sewol ferry victims’ families firsthand, following them in the field over an extended period. Rather than recreating the sinking, the film weaves together the records of families who have continued their efforts to establish the truth and preserve memories as an archival documentary.
OVERALL TRUTH BASIS · Fact-centered
A documentary made from more than 5,000 archival videos filmed by Moon Jong-taek, a family member of a Sewol disaster victim, over the 10 years after the disaster, and from the activities of families and citizens.
Sewol Ferry Disaster
A social disaster in which 304 people died when the Sewol ferry sank on April 16, 2014.
Start of the Sewol bereaved families’ 416TV documentation activities
The point at which Sewol bereaved families, including Moon Jong-taek, began using cameras and 416TV to document and broadcast their activities themselves.
FACT / FICTION
Verification 10
Fact / Fiction verification
10 records<Years in the Wind> is a documentary for the 10th anniversary of the Sewol disaster, released on April 3, 2024.
On screen · Verified record
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- KOFIC lists its running time as 104 minutes, and industry year-end materials list Kim Hwan-tae and Moon Jong-taek as co-directors.
View 2 sources
- SEWOL: Years in the Wind (2024)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
- 2024년 영화산업 결산 부록KOFIC · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
Director Moon Jong-taek is the father of Moon Ji-seong, a student who died in the Sewol disaster.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Director interviews identify Moon Jong-taek as the father of Moon Ji-seong, a second-year student at Danwon High School.
View 2 sources
- 세월호 10주기…'바람의 세월' 문종택 감독이투데이 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
- “10년밖에 안됐다. 노란 꽃을 아직 꺾지 말아 달라”씨네21 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
The Sewol disaster occurred on April 16, 2014, and 304 people died.
On screen · Verified record
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- The 4·16 Foundation timeline and 2026 government memorial service materials confirm the date and the deaths of 304 people.
View 2 sources
- 4월 16일 타임라인4·16재단 · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
- 4·16세월호 참사 12주기 기억식대한민국 정책브리핑 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
Moon Jong-taek picked up a camera on August 8, 2014, to document the bereaved families’ activities himself.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Director Moon Jong-taek said that, during the hunger strikes at the National Assembly and Gwanghwamun, he began broadcasting and recording himself in response to misreporting and distortions by the existing media.
View 1 sources
- 바라고 바라던 | 바람의 세월 감독 인터뷰마리끌레르 코리아 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
The records on which the film is based were accumulated over about 10 years, or 3,654 days.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- KOFIC and Cine21 explain that the film presents the record of 3,654 days in chronological order.
View 2 sources
- SEWOL: Years in the Wind (2024)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
- “10년밖에 안됐다. 노란 꽃을 아직 꺾지 말아 달라”씨네21 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
The video footage Moon Jong-taek accumulated amounted to more than 5,000 videos and about 50 TB.
On screen · Verified record
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- Verified record
- In an interview with EToday, director Moon said the footage amounted to 3,654 days, more than 5,000 videos, and 50 TB.
View 1 sources
- 세월호 10주기…'바람의 세월' 문종택 감독이투데이 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
Rather than a dramatic film recreating the sinking of the Sewol itself, the film is an archival documentary that records the families’ long-term efforts to establish the truth and preserve memories after the disaster.
On screen · Verified record
- On screen
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- Verified record
- The KOFIC synopsis and director interviews describe the film as centering on the 10 years of activity by bereaved families and citizens.
View 2 sources
- SEWOL: Years in the Wind (2024)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
- “10년밖에 안됐다. 노란 꽃을 아직 꺾지 말아 달라”씨네21 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
The title’s “wind” has a double meaning: it refers not only to the passage of time but also to the hopes held by the bereaved families.
On screen · Verified record
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- Verified record
- Director Moon Jong-taek explained that he included in the title “wind” in the sense of hoping.
View 1 sources
- 바라고 바라던 | 바람의 세월 감독 인터뷰마리끌레르 코리아 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
The film is one of five films planned for the 10th anniversary of the Sewol disaster.
On screen · Verified record
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- A director interview in Marie Claire describes it as one of the five films in the 10th-anniversary project.
View 1 sources
- 바라고 바라던 | 바람의 세월 감독 인터뷰마리끌레르 코리아 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
In 2026 in Korea, <Years in the Wind> is listed as available through subscription streaming on Watcha and TVING.
On screen · Verified record
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- JustWatch lists both services as of its update on 2026-06-30.
View 1 sources
- 바람의 세월 보기JustWatch · Other · Grade AOpen source →
CHARACTER ↔ PERSON
Characters and real people
문종택
Historical personBased on a real personMoon Jong-taek →
Other related people
Moon Ji-seong
Victim of the Sewol disasterSources used
- SEWOL: Years in the Wind (2024)KOFIC / KoBiz · Specialist database · Grade AOpen source →
- 2024년 영화산업 결산 부록KOFIC · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
- 세월호 10주기…'바람의 세월' 문종택 감독이투데이 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
- “10년밖에 안됐다. 노란 꽃을 아직 꺾지 말아 달라”씨네21 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
- 4월 16일 타임라인4·16재단 · Official record · Grade AOpen source →
- 4·16세월호 참사 12주기 기억식대한민국 정책브리핑 · Government source · Grade AOpen source →
- 바라고 바라던 | 바람의 세월 감독 인터뷰마리끌레르 코리아 · Creator interview · Grade AOpen source →
- 바람의 세월 보기JustWatch · Other · Grade AOpen source →