Jeju 4.3 was a historic incident symbolizing national integration

An event was prepared for Koreans to remember Jeju 4.3 as historic event and as symbol of national integration.

The Association for the Bereaved Families of the Victims of Jeju 4‧3 (Chairperson Song Seung-moon) and the Korean National Police Veterans Association in Jeju (Chairperson Kim Young-joong) gathered at the Loyal Dead Cemetery and at the memorial altar in the Jeju 4‧3 Peace Memorial Park on Aug. 2, holding the 6th Joint Worship for Commemorating the Announcement for Reconciliation and Coexistence.

The event was joined by the staff of various organizations, institutions and political parties, including Ahn Dong-woo, Vice-governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeong Min-goo, Chairperson of the Special Committee on Jeju 4.3 in Jeju Special Self-governing Provincial Council, Kang Cheol-nam and Kang Seong-ui, members of the Provincial Council, Boo Du-heun, Vice-chairperson of the Korean National Police Veterans Association, Yang Jo-hoon, Chairperson of the Jeju 4‧3 Peace Foundation, Goo Ja-heon, Chairperson of the Liberty Korea Party in Jeju, Ko Byeong-soo, Chairperson of the Justice Party in Jeju, and Cheon Jang-ok, Executive Advisor of the Party for Democracy and Peace.

The joint worship first started on Aug. 2, 2013, in the Room of the People of Jeju at the Provincial Council where the Association for the Bereaved Families of the Victims of Jeju 4‧3 and the Korean National Police Veterans Association in Jeju gathered for a joint press conference to announce reconciliation and coexistence. The event is drawing attention as a model for reconciliation, and more groups in Jeju are taking part every year.

All the participants offered flowers and burned incense to appease the victims of Jeju 4·3 and the police who died 70 years ago.

Notably, there were numerous visits from prosecution and police staff. As the Ministry of National Defense and the police expressed regret regarding Jeju 4‧3, admitting fault, the climate for reconciliation and peace is at its peak.

On Aug. 8, 2019, high officials from the Jeju District Public Prosecutors’ Office paid visits to the joint worship, including Jo Jae-yeon, Director of the Office, and Park So-young, Deputy Chief Prosecutor, both new on Jeju, as well as Kim Jae-ha, Jeong Tae-won, and Park Dae-beom, Chief Prosecutors.

The prosecutors met Yang Jo-hoon, Chairperson of the Jeju 4‧3 Peace Foundation, and Song Seung-moon, Chairperson of the Association for the Bereaved Families of the Victims of Jeju 4‧3, who offered to guide them to the altar. After worship, they went into the exhibition hall of the memorial building and were reminded of the meaning of the tragic incident of 71 years ago.

Newly-appointed Director Jo, after the worship, wrote in the guest book, “We pay our respects to the lost souls of Jeju 4‧3, and we truly hope for the incident to be rightfully evaluated both historically and legally to heal the wounds of the bereaved families of the victims, as it marks our way to reconciliation and harmony.”

Kim Byeong-goo, Chief of the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, visited the memorial altar in the Jeju 4‧3 Peace Memorial Park on Oct. 18 along with 14 members of the provincial police agency staff  including Byeon Min-seon, Chief of the Investigation Division, Seo Sang-tae, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Division, and Kim Hak-cheol, Chief of the Security Division.

Also, at the exhibit “Righteous People,” featured in the exhibition hall, visitors raised their hands in salute to upright people such as Police Superintendent Moon Hyeon-soon and Regiment Commander Kim Ik-ryeol, who made the right choice the incident.

More groups followed to remember Jeju 4‧3. On Oct. 11, 2019, the Jejudo Association from Kansai, Japan, visited the joint worship, and on Oct. 14, 100 people who belong to the Global Jejuin Hub Network came to respect and keep the memory of the lost souls at the Jeju 4‧3 Peace Memorial Park.