Live video from Szeretlek Magyarország's Facebook page

By Kang Gahui and Kim Minji

Hundreds of Hungarians on June 3 sang the Korean folk song "Arirang" in Budapest, Hungary, to pay tribute to the Korean victims of a boat collision in which nine Korean passengers perished, with 17 still missing.

On the sixth day after the accident, the Hungarians gathered on Margaret Bridge above the Danube River in a gathering organized through Facebook by a Budapest-based choir. The video on the choir's Facebook page featured messages such as "So sorry for your loss," "Sending my condolences" and "I sincerely express my condolences to the bereaved."

Many visitors laid the Taegeukgi (Korea's national flag), candles, letters and chrysanthemum on the bridge and vicinity.

Earlier on May 31, a memorial ceremony was held in front of the Korean Embassy in Budapest, which was not far from the accident site. People marched holding flowers and candles along the walls of the embassy.

On May 29, a river cruise ship collided with the smaller sightseeing boat Hableany, which was carrying 33 Korean tourists and two crew members. Korean and Hungarian rescue divers are continuing search-and-rescue operations.

kgh89@korea.kr