Hi . '죄송합니다'. '미안합니다' is not same as 'sorry (to hear that). The reasone there are so many banners in korea now related with Sewol is we feel really sorry that we made this stupid society n country that couldnt save them.. I think lack of morality n justice in this society caused this sadness. I blame on me that i am a member of that.. so I also feel very sorry for those students who died under cold and dark sea. Please hope that korean will change and recognise money is not always best priority so that this sadnees wont happen again in this country.

JeeYoung, thank you for your answer. The explanation is helpful. I read the link, but I recognize too much of something else in it to take it at face value. I'm not a young person, and I HATE, HATE, HATE politics (not a particular political position. Politics) ... and unfortunately, some of what I have seen afterwards is people siezing on political opportunity. (Sorry if I seem to be harsh here. It is possible that you are giving me that article as an example of what people are saying with the sign, but my first impression was that you were giving it to me as representing what really happened and asking me to trust that article. If it is an example, then clarifying that explains a lot.) I have seen a lot of what I'm talking about in the US in all political sides, and elsewhere, and I know whenever someone starts advertising they have the "truth" on something, especially on an article written like the one you linked me to, it is "reader beware," and "keep your mind fully engaged." I may have to delete this question later as I'm not sure it can remain one of just answering my question. The situation with Sewol is terrible, terrible, terrible ... which also means when people respond afterwards, I expect a lot of emotion. That includes the signs, but also what is said and written - so I keep my mind engaged ...

Hello Steve. I'd like to add some to a previous answer. As you probably know, the concept of 'we' (as members) is rather important than 'I' in Korea. 'We' feel very sorry for people who passed away because we are members of this society that made very cruel and serious mistakes. This link below may help you understand better... http://www.thetruthofsewolferry.com/truth/ p.s. 유감입니다 can be an expression for the sentence, "I'm sorry to hear that" It's very formal so usually not used on a daily basis.

BTW, I've been absolutely heartsick about Sewol. Just now do I begin to feel comfortable asking for better understanding of some of the things I've seen from the events that were different from what I thought before. I certainly am not making light of it by asking questions like this. If all of Korea's heart hurts from Sewol (Something my sister-in-law expressed to me in the early days, just as we were realizing there was no hope left for any more survivors), then I would have to say this incident proved to me just how Korean I've become as my heart certainly ached with all of my adopted homeland.