Ilbe manipulates yellow ribbon image into own emblem

Left a yellow ribbon made for wishing the safe return of Sewol sinking victims. Right, a manipulated ribbon resembling two Korean alphabets “ㅇ” and “ㅂ” which stands for the first syllable of “Il” and “be” respectively.

Ilbe, an online community full of self-proclaimed ultra right wingers, enraged the nation yet again by manipulating the yellow ribbon image made for wishing the safe return of Sewol sinking victims.

The idea of using ribbons for the Sewol victims and families was initiated by the university student club ALT (Alter, Active, Autonomous Life Together).

Historically, yellow ribbons were worn by the American soldiers’ families wishing for the safe return of their beloved ones from war sites.

The yellow ribbon image created by ALT was spread rapidly on the internet by those who wished to express the deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

And early this morning a similar image was posted on Ilbe with a manipulated ribbon resembling two Korean alphabets “ㅇ” and “ㅂ” which stands for the first syllable of “Il” and “be” respectively.

Many non-Ilbe users say such action is “beyond heinous.”

“The image makes me wonder ‘how can a person be that indifferent and cruel to the sufferings of others’,” commented one internet user.

“This is tantamount to a mental disease,” said another.

“I’m beyond speechless. To play with the tragedy of this magnitude as if this is some sort of a chance to be funny? Shame on you,” read another.