A husband says his last goodbyes to his wife who lies in a vegetative state. This is a scene from a theatrical production called “Dongchimi 동치미.” It’s a story about parents who selflessly devote their lives and love for the success and happiness of their children.

(Female 1) It was like watching my own life’s story. It made me think about things I know I should do, but don’t. Like at the end, when the children insist on taking care of their father after their mother passes away, and when the father screams out his last regrets, as well as when the mother endures her last days with pain medication. You know, all mothers are the same. I don’t think children return one-tenth of the amount of affection that parents give them. Parents instinctually provide for their children and children often know they should reciprocate, but don’t.

Since the play’s premiere in 2009, the heart-rending family drama Dongchimi has been shown in 30 cities all over Korea and has brought nearly 250,000 audience members to tears. Due to the tragic sinking of ferry Sewol, the play is re-gaining attention for making us reflect upon our relations with our family members. The tragic ferry accident has instigated the family affection syndrome, making us realize once again just how precious our families are.

The entire country is distraught and saddened over the recent ferry accident and has triggered many of us who have been distracted with our busy lives to slow down and appreciate the importance of our families. Parents who pressure their children to study harder, believing that success and social recognition are the most important goals in life, have started to change. Even busy corporate employees have shifted their priorities from work to home. Here’s Kim Won-seop 김원섭, professor of Sociology at Korea University, to tell us more about this social change.



The people around me used to talk about whether or not their kids were studying hard and doing well in school, but these days we’re just grateful they’re alive and well. Whenever you see your children you feel the urge to give them something more and it has become a collective phenomenon. Many people believed that achieving success and social recognition was the most important part of their lives and took their families for granted. But the recent ferry accident caused us to reflect on what is truly valuable in life. You can switch jobs and employers but if you lose your family, your whole identity and livelihood becomes endangered. Empathizing with the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry accident victims has triggered us to reexamine our values.

The phenomenon of increased family affection was first observed in consumer purchasing patterns. In Korea, May is designated as “Family Month”, and according to one supermarket, compared to last year’s sales, carnation sales have risen over 40 percent, restaurants have also seen a 30 percent increase in family unit customers and demands for health food products and elderly care products have increased as well. So the commercial industry and food industry are focusing on supplying family oriented products. More specifically, there has been a huge increase in family trips. Here’s travel agent Cho Il-sang조일상 of Hana Tours to tell us more.

Every year, we see an increasing demand for over-seas travel. Compared to last year, we’re seeing a 10 percent growth which is due to an increase in family trips. But while demands for large group tours have decreased, pre-packaged tours and individual travel bookings for families have all increased. Just in the month of April, May and June, we assisted around 600 to 2000 more customers with their travels.

Overall consumer purchases have decreased since the tragic sinking of the Sewol, but sales for safety gear and products that aid in expressing one’s affection have increased.

(Female 1) I’m taking my in-laws on a nice family vacation. I hope for a safe trip.
(Female 2) We go on a lot of family trips but the ferry accident made me realize we should travel even more as a family and strengthen our family bond. No one knows what will happen next, and I worry non-stop whenever anyone steps out of the house. The ferry accident made me think about my family and how we should be traveling more whenever there’s an opportunity.

Performances and exhibitions that deal with family matters are attracting more attention. Recently, many people visited the Three Line Love Letter exhibition held at the Seoul Metropolitan Library and left heartwarming messages about families. Here’s Kim Jae-sik 김재식 of Seoul Metropolitan Library.

Many people are more appreciative of their families these days and this exhibition features messages about fathers and families. The main copy for the exhibition is “Although you don’t yearn for it, the warmth of Spring reaches all.” In other words, even though we’re all exhausted due to different reasons, if we endure our hardships and keep pushing forward, days as nice as warm spring days will soon follow suit.

- I will only love you / I will only lay my eyes on you / You are my only love….
- I’m sorry / Thank you / I love you.
- I think of you always, mother and father / Although you are no longer here / You will always be in my heart because I love you.

The exhibition warms hearts with three line love letters. After experiencing the exhibition, visitors can write their own three line love letters.

(Male 1) Since the messages are only three lines they are very concise which makes you think harder, but I like it because it seems more sincere. I’m getting married next month and was only recently hired so my parents are bearing most of the expenses. The exhibition made me think a lot about my mother…
(Female 1) “Saying ‘I love you’ isn’t enough / I’m grateful that you’ve always been there for me / Thank you.” This message really struck a chord with me. I’m living on my own right now, but since the ferry accident I’ve been in touch with my parents more frequently and I’ve even started writing letters to them.
(Female 2) Writing allows me to express my emotions in a more refined manner so I feel like I’m becoming more sensitive. I’m glad I was able to express thoughts in writing that I was too shy to say aloud.

In the revival of the play Dongchimi, which opened on April 29, retired civil servant Kim Man-bok 김만복 has difficulty walking due a work related injury. Because of his disability, he is constantly irritated and angry. His wife, Jeong E-bun정이분 has cared for him without a single complaint for over 10 years. They met when they were young and married in their hometown before moving to Seoul with only one sack of rice. The couple endured countless difficulties in order to provide for their 3 children but all the children do is constantly fight in front of them.

Each child is loved and viewed equally in the eyes of their parents, but as a child you believe everything is unfair. The same goes for the children of Kim Man-bok and Jeong E-bun. The eldest daughter marries a rich businessman but becomes the topic of gossip due to dowry problems. The eldest son is the only one in the family who studied abroad but fails every business venture he starts. The youngest daughter becomes an actress and struggles financially. Due to their different situations, all they do is fight when they meet.

The parents suffer watching their children fight repeatedly and continue to misunderstand one another. One day, the wife, Jeong E-bun, falls on the way to her husband’s hospital appointment.

It seemed like she had slightly tripped over something on the road but the wife lies on the ground unconscious. She is rushed to the hospital and the doctor gives a shocking diagnosis.

The wife was so occupied caring for her husband and raising her children that she never took care of her own body. All these years, she had been taking pain killers to go about her daily life as a good wife and mother, while her bones shattered due to osteoporosis and a large cancerous mass grew inside of her. Here’s actress Kim Gye-seon김계선 who plays the character Jeong E-bun in Dongchimi.

I really focused on portraying a sentimental and vulnerable mother so that whenever you heard the word “mom” you would become emotional. My mother is my role model, so I become very emotional just by thinking about her. I have also asked my mother why she sacrifices herself so much…. I hope this play will comfort those who have sacrificed so much for their families.

Hooked up to a ventilator, the wife goes into a vegetative state. The wife who always responded affectionately to her husband’s annoyances now lies in bed, unresponsive. The husband could not bear to see his wife, who had devoted her years caring for him and his children, heavily relying on a ventilator, barely able to stay alive. So the husband decides to take her off the machine.

After his wife passes away, husband Kim Man-bok 김만복 abstains from eating and drinking. Too late in realizing their parents’ unconditional love, the children each insist upon taking the responsibility of caring for their father. But Kim Man-bok just shakes his head and declines.

Kim Man-bok falls ill and just 3 days after his wife’s passing, he takes his last breath.



The story of Dongchimi helps the audience realize their love and duties to their parents, and it’s actually based on a true story. The motif of Dongchimi is based on the life of Poet Kim Sang-uk김상욱 who lost his wife of 60 years in 2004. He abstained from eating and drinking; and passed away after six days. After learning about this heartbreaking love story, Dongchimi’s Director Kim Yong-eul김용을, felt the need to share this story about unconditional parental love with the public.

Although most people get married and live a good life, I wanted to show how even the best of us are unable to take care of our parents due to various circumstances. Sure, everyone wants to provide and care more for their parents but once you start your own family, your number one priority becomes your own children. I just wanted to tell a story about parents and their unconditional love for their children.

We should all be grateful for our families. Nowadays, children are attentively sending text messages to their estranged parents, and parents who were too busy to have meaningful conversations with their children are reaching out and communicating their affections. The sudden sinking of Sewol took so many precious lives. Watching the bereaved families of the ferry victims has allowed us to reflect upon our oversights and realize the importance of each day we have with our families.