You will never walk alone
June 17. It is the 9th anniversary of the late diver Kim Kwan-hong, who was the first to jump into the sea in April 2014, who never let go of the lives that could not be rescued, and who testified to the truth of the disaster.
On June 16, 2025, the film 'Sea Tiger', commemorating him, unveiled through a press screening held at the Megabox Coex Mall in Seoul.
The work is based on the reportage novel 'It's a Lie' (2016) by writer Kim Tak-hwan about late diver Kim Kwan-hong and diver Gong Woo-young, among other civilian divers from the Sewol ferry, and is directed by Jeong Yoon-cheol, who directed the film 'Marathon'.
Actor Lee Ji-hoon plays the role of diver Na Kyung-soo, modeled after late diver Kim Kwan-hong, while actor Son Seong-ho plays the role of diver Ryu Chang-dae, modeled after diver Gong Woo-young. Actor Park Ho-san, a scene-stealer, takes on the role of Oh Dae-ryeong, creating a unique film based on acting skills and imagination.
In the spring of 2014, civilian diver Na Kyung-soo, who risked his life to bring the victims back to their families from the sunken Sewol ferry disaster site, suffers from painful decompression sickness and mental trauma. As the Coast Guard hands over civilian diver representative Ryu Chang-dae to face charges of negligent homicide for a deceased fellow diver, Kyung-soo's heart becomes even more desolate.
However, in a trial where he must prove his innocence against the unfeeling state that used them and then discarded them, and to regain their trampled dignity, Kyung-soo shares the pain he experienced while wandering alone through the hellish maze inside the massive ship, a past he wishes to forget.
That confession unfolds quietly yet grandly, sorrowfully yet bravely, sharply yet deeply on the screen.
Late diver Kim Kwan-hong received a call from a fellow diver saying that the recovery of the Sewol ferry was slow, and he went down to the scene of the accident, abandoning his livelihood. For several days, he survived on instant noodles due to a lack of food. According to diving safety regulations, a 10-minute dive requires an 11-hour rest, but civilian divers at the accident site conducted 3 to 4 dives a day to rescue even one more person.
During a dive, Kim lost his breath and was hospitalized for three days, but after being discharged, he immediately returned to the scene to accelerate the rescue efforts. Over about three months, civilian divers recovered 292 bodies, but the government abruptly notified them of their dismissal via text message, claiming that their working methods were incorrect.
Seeing the state shift the responsibility for the deaths of civilian divers during the rescue operation onto another civilian diver, Gong Woo-young, and file a lawsuit, Kim Kwan-hong felt immense pain as he realized that the sincerity with which they voluntarily went down for the victims was fading away without any reward.
Additionally, he was diagnosed with severe mental trauma and avascular necrosis, the worst stage of decompression sickness, making it impossible for him to return to the sea. Physically and mentally weakened, he could no longer lead a normal life, but he maintained a steady relationship with fellow divers and bereaved families from the 4.16 Coalition.
In 2016, he passed away due to illness.
Released on June 25. Rated for ages 15 and up. Running time 105 minutes.
