Nine days into the search-and-rescue operations for passengers of the Sewol ferry which capsized on April 16, yellow ribbons are flourishing throughout South Korea.

The ribbons are an expression of the country's hope of finding survivors among the 131 still missing, with some carrying messages such as "I am waiting for you!", "I hope you'll return!" and "Come home!".

An online campaign backed by celebrities such as singer Jo Kwon, from K-pop group 2am, and model Hye Park is also gaining traction. The campaign features a simple drawing of a black bow against a yellow background with the message "One small movement, big miracles" written in Korean underneath.