[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.]

According to the encyclopedia, on March 1st, people gathered in Gwandeokjeong to commemorate the March 1st Movement. A little kid was hit by a mounted police officer by mistake. This upset people and they began throwing stones. The police officers misunderstood this as an attack and fired. Six people died. Afterwards, almost everyone on Jeju Isanld went on strike. When the police and the ‘North-West Youth Organization’ dispatched by the US, arrested and tortured people, at 1948, April 3rd, some of the people of Jeju and people of Namro Party rose in arms against the police and right-wing organizations. The police, soldiers and the ‘North-West Youth Organization’ responded by arresting those and shooting them to death with no proper burial. The April 3 incident resulted in the death of about 25,000 to 30,000 people from 1948 to 1954.

To remember and pay respects to those who have been a victim of 4.3 Incident, Jeju April 3rd Peace Park has been created in Jeju Bonggae-dong. There are six special rooms according to the website of the Peace Park. It tells the story of cruelty and the events of the April 3rd. It is a place of sadness and makes the heart ache.

Kim Chul, one of the victims of the 4.3 incident is 68 years old but shares with others how, at the age of 7, he, his grandmother and uncle were fleeing. They suddenly heard gunfire. His uncle was shot in the heard and killed. Chul was shot and hit in both arms and hip. He still has problem moving his arms.

He also emphasized the importance of changing the event’s name to Struggle, and said, “If it’s name is 4.3 Incident, there is no compensation. So currently it is called 4.3 Incident, but 3.1 Shooting Incident was started by the police(so it’s name should be changed).”.

There was a ‘guilt-by-association system’ which forbide victims to talk about the events. Mr. Kim himself was caught up by this system and three to four police officers followed his back until he was 40 years old.

Many people of Jeju died because of the April 3 Incident and compensation has not been given to the victims. To solve the Incident perfectly, the Incident’s name must be changed to something meaning such as ‘struggle’. Then the compensation can be given. There should be a sense of duty to tell others about the history of April 3rd.