[This article is written by a JDC Junior Journalist. The JDC Junior Journalist program is an educational project sponsored by Jeju Free International City Development Corporation (JDC). JDC Junior Journalist articles are only briefly edited by mentors before publishing.]

“I have a second son and daughter. My first son was taken in front of my eyes. Everybody left and said I should stop worrying, but nobody came back. I bleed in my neck when I think that I lost my family. It’s so unfair. I can’t die before I see my son. I can’t die ever.” This is Yang Eun Ha’s mother. Yang Eun Ha is one of the victims of the 4.3 Massacre that died because of terrible torture. Her story can be found at the 4.3 museum.

Like this story, the Jeju April Third Massacre gives Jeju people pain. Many Jeju people were sacrificed because of pressure between the army and a punitive expedition. The Jeju April Third Massacre’s damage is too big. The government said the 4.3 Massacre isn’t a “struggle.” Because of this, victims can’t receive money, so victims live a meager life. Many people were victims because of an implicative system that punished people because of family fault. Many people went to jail and so many people died unfairly.

There was also a Northwest Young Men’s Association that hid during the Jeju April Third Massacre. It was a cruel organization that killed what they thought to be communist people. At this time, ten percent of Jeju people died because of the massacre.

Kim Cheol, a victim of the 4.3 Massacre said, “I was shot in the arms and back. I feared the major general. He was very cruel.” He also said that many students died because of the massacre.

Like these stories, there are many others that make Jeju people feel pain, sad, and distressed. Let’s pray for peace for the dead and for the living in Jeju to move forward.