[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.]

The 4.3 Massacre is a sad part of history for Jeju Island. At that time, almost 20,000 people were killed, and many survivors had stress disorders from the event, so they couldn’t live ordinary lives afterwards. Today, many families in Jeju are sad because one of their family members was a victim of the 4.3 Massacre.

In 1945, Korea regained independence, ending Japan’s colonial rule. After that, Korea had no government, so South Korea was governed by America, and North Korea was governed by the Soviet Union. In 1948, Kim Koo who claimed to make Korea a unified government conflicted with Lee Sung Man who claimed to make South Korea’s own government. But Kim died, so South Korea voted for South Korea’s president. But the people of Jeju protested because they wanted a unified Korean government.

On March 1st, 1947, Jeju people gathered in Gwandeokjeong to commemorate the March 1st Movement. One police officer caused the death of a baby, so people protested the police officers, and six people died.

Because Jeju opposed the election, the government commanded soldiers and policemen to kill Jeju islanders and destroy the island. Many people died and many Jeju villages were destroyed. This event started on April 3rd, so we call it the 4.3 Massacre.

Kim Chol, the chairman of the 4.3 Bereaved Family Association said, “When my family and I were seeking refuge in the mountain, my family was shot at by a gun, and my uncle died.”

He also said, ”The government said that 4.3 Massacre is an event, not a struggle. Actually, the 4.3 Massacre is a struggle. But the government said that 4.3 Massacre is an event because they didn’t want to compensate the victims.”

For half a century, Jeju islanders kept silent about the 4.3 Massacre. Korea’s 16th president No Mu Hyun apologized about that event. He admitted that 4.3 Massacre was a Korean government’s mistake.

For more information about the 4.3 Massacre, please visit www.jeju43peace.or.kr