Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung visited Jeju Island on March 29, holding discussions with survivors and bereaved families of the 1948 Jeju 4.3 uprising. He delivered a forceful condemnation of Park Jin-kyung, the division commander who oversaw the military suppression, labeling him the chief perpetrator and demanding full accountability for state violence.
Call for Justice and Forgiveness
During an open forum at a Jeju hotel, Lee emphasized burying past resentments through comprehensive legal trials for crimes of national violence and personal introspection. “Survivors and families must forgive the 4.3 suppression led by that division commander,” he stated, urging constitutional reflection across all sectors.
“Even through exhaustive nationwide searches and legal processes, we must ensure accountability,” Lee added. He highlighted completing public trials, restoring dignity for the living, and enabling true reflection for descendants.
Park Jin-kyung’s Role in Jeju 4.3
Park Jin-kyung stands as the most notorious figure tied to the division-level operations in the Jeju 4.3 incident. As commander of the 9th Division—Jeju’s military garrison—he arrived on the island in May 1948 and orchestrated mass killings by June 18. These actions fueled the government’s push for his ‘liquidation of insurgents.’
Authorities executed Park on December 30, 1950, though he survived and returned after two years and six months. Labeled a ‘Jeju civilian massacre culprit,’ his subordinates faced similar ‘traitor’ designations, forming a key pillar of 4.3 narratives. Registration as a state traitor remains pending, with his remains held privately rather than repatriated.
Push for Records and Remains Recovery
Lee stressed that victims slain solely due to their identities deserve renewed efforts to locate remains using registry records. He advocated swift decisions on related listings to honor the aggrieved.
At the gathering, Ko Gye-soon, 84, the earliest documented registry victim, recounted surviving two near-fatal attacks during 4.3 by hiding in a fox den. “Only now does the nation truly confront my father-in-law’s deeds, bringing relief,” she shared.
Broader Condemnation of State Violence
Accompanied by Kim Hye-kyung, Lee also met other 4.3 victims. On social media platform X, he posted: “History and facts convict service killers as the gravest state violence offenders—Park et al. must face unflinching judgment.”
This visit underscores ongoing demands for around 70,000 implicated in civilian unrest suppression and civilian deaths, with full perpetrator listings central to reconciliation.
