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Works for global recognition of Jeju 4·3

Efforts for UNESCO Memory of the World inscription begun

Promotional committee launching ceremony held

Efforts began for the inscription of documentary heritage of Jeju 4·3, the worst tragic event in contemporary Korean history, on the related Register of the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) programme.

On Feb. 20, 2023, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Oh Young-hoon) and Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation (President Koh Hee-bum) held the launching ceremony of the Promotional Committee for the UNESCO MoW Inscription of Jeju 4·3 Documentary Heritage (Jeju 4·3 MoW Inscription Promotional Committee) in the International Convention Hall of the Korea Press Center, Seoul. With over 150 attendees, the ceremony announced the co-chairpersons of the committee, including Oh Young-hoon (Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province), Kim Kyung-hak (chairperson of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council), Kim Kwang-soo (Superintendent of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education), Hyun Ki-young (novelist, winner of the 3rd Jeju 4·3 Peace Prize), Dan Smith (director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, winner of the 4th Jeju 4·3 Peace Prize), Moon Hye-hyeong (Jeju 4·3 victim’s family member), Park Ju-yeong (head of the Student Union, Jeju National University), and the late Jin A-yeong (Jeju 4·3 victim, an honorary co-chairperson). Koh Hee-bum (president of the Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation) and Kim Chang-beom (chairperson of the Association of the Bereaved Families of Jeju 4·3 Victims) have been appointed as co-executive chairpersons.

 

The official event began with the screening of a video of the late Jin A-yeong [a symbolic Jeju 4·3 victim who used to cover her crushed lower jaw with a cotton cloth], followed by the recital of “Lady Cotton Cloth” [a tribute poem for Jin A-yeong] by its author, Heo Young-sun. Moon Hye-hyeong, a Jeju 4·3 victim’s family member, was invited to read her story related to the documentary heritage of Jeju 4·3. Lastly, a joint declaration was read and the Jeju 4·3 MoW Inscription Promotional Committee was launched.

Oh Young-hoon, Kim Kwang-soo, Kim Chang-beom, Hyun Ki-young, and Park Ju-yeong read the joint declaration together, conveying the participants’ earnest aspiration for the inscription of Jeju 4·3 documentary heritage on the MoW Register.

During the ceremony, Governor Oh emphasized that the members of the promotional committee will make concerted efforts to have the nation’s proud history of resolving Jeju 4·3 be inscribed on the UNESCO MoW Register, eventually establishing a world-recognized model of resolving the past misconduct and peacefully overcoming historical tragedies.

Jeju society has consistently mentioned the necessity and possibility of inscribing the Jeju 4·3 documentary heritage on the MoW Register. Public discussions began in 2012, with the promotional efforts made starting from 2018.

Over 30,000 items will be compiled for the application for the MoW inscription, ranging from those documents produced during Jeju 4·3 to those produced after the historical event officially ended. The first includes administrative materials from public authorities, records of conviction by the courts-martial and general courts, and documents developed by the U.S military, while the latter is related to the deliberation and determination of Jeju 4·3 victims, investigation of Jeju 4·3 by the Jeju Provincial Council, testimonies by Jeju 4·3 victims, movement to discover the truth of Jeju 4·3, and efforts to achieve reconciliation and mutual prosperity between the victims and the perpetrators. The items will also include the video of the late Jin A-young and three postcards sent by the late Moon Soon-hyeon (Moon Hye-hyeong’s father) from Daegu Prison.

The documentary heritage of Jeju 4·3 is considered a historical memory and record of overcoming the pain of collective victimization caused by state violence amid the Cold War and national division and of discovering the truth and achieving reconciliation, with mutual prosperity following. Its value is internationally recognized as an exemplary record of resolving past misconduct of state power.

The Jeju 4·3 MoW Inscription Promotional Committee plans to carry out various activities, such as forming national public consensus on the legitimacy of the inscription and disseminating the value of Jeju 4·3 documentary heritage. In doing so, the committee will stage an online campaign to draw continued public attention and support to the inscription.

The inclusion of documentary heritage on the MoW Register is determined through a review by the International Advisory Committee (IAC) in its biennial ordinary session, where each member state can put forward up to two new nominations. In South Korea, the Cultural Heritage Administration submits to the IAC ordinary session the application for two candidates selected through a preliminary application and review.

 

 

++ Jeju 4·3 materials included on the list of documentary heritage for the application for the MoW inscription. Claim for Jeju 4·3 Victim’s Status (first), List of Convicted Prisoners (second), and postcards sent from prison (third). Cabinet minutes (fourth and fifth),