Jonghyun, a member of the K-pop band SHINee, paid tribute to the victims of the Sewol ferry accident last year through his Twitter account on Thursday.

(Yonhap)

“Thank you, I have received birthday congratulations from many people,” Jonghyun, who turned 25, wrote in his three-part Twitter post.

“Being able to share matters of life is very fortunate. And on that note, I have something to say.”

“I am sure no one has forgotten the Sewol tragedy. Among the deceased Danwon High School students, there are two friends who share the same birthday as me. Park Ji-yoon and Kim Kun-woo’s birthdays are April 8.

“Even though a day has passed, please remember them and send a free text to #1111. The message will appear on the electronic display at the Ansan memorial altar.”

“I never talked to these children, nor have I seen them with my own eyes, but my heart is still numb and hurt,” the post continued. “They are children who breathed the same air as us. We should never forget them, for the sake of the children and for those left behind.”

On April 16 last year, the Sewol ferry capsized while en route to Jejudo Island, killing more than 300 people, mostly teenage students from Danwon High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, who were on a field trip.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)