[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.]

4.3 Massacre is a big scar and a cause for sorrow of the Jeju people. A lot of victims and facts about the event were kept in a deep silence behind a shade of 4.3 Massacre. Mr. Kim said, “After the April 3rd Massacre was finished, the victims and their family couldn’t talk about their suffering and pain. We had to stay silent about the 4.3 massacre, but finally, everyone is able to tell the truth like me.”

March 1st shooting incident is the start of 4.3 Massacre. On March 1st, 1947, people gathered in Gwandeokjeong to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the March 1st Movement. A mounted police officer caused a baby’s death at the gathering. But he realize it and he didn’t apologized to the people. That made the crowd angry and they went to the police station to protest. Police opened a fire on the crowd killing 6 people.

In response to the government’s violent reaction, people rose up and attacked the police station on April 3rd, 1948. The government reproched them and orderd to cleanse the counterforce of jeju. This was the real start of 4.3 Massacre. The people who attacked the police station became “rebels” from that point on.Soldiers and police officers started to kill them. Mr.Kim said “During the 4.3, the soldiers killed many people and the soldiers received the victims’ property and became wealthy. When a person ran up to the mountain to escape, solders killed their family members. This was called ‘Dae-Sal “

In Jeju, there is a place to honor the memory of the April 4 massacre. In the “Memorial Tablet Shrine“, more than 14,000 spirits of the victims during the Jeju 4.3 incident are enshrined. Visitors may leave their devotional honor to console the spirits of the victims. More than 14,000 tablets are there, so the cabinet of tablets is almost 6 meters tall and coverd whole wall. In this place, people can see the countless victims of 4.3 Massacre.

The president of 4.3 aftermath handicapped association, Kim Cheol said, “Many innocent people died. I can’t erase my memory of 4.3 Massacre. The memory of 4.3 Massacre makes me hurt. And I belive you guys. You are my president. Because you should lead Korea. I believe in you.”

4.3 Massacre is a big scar and sorrow of Jeju. But it’s not only a tragic history. We should know about 4.3 Massacre and we must lead the world to peace.