'Jeju 4·3 Victims Memorial Ceremony' Held on the 3rd... Attendance Reduced Due to COVID-19

"Healing Pain, 4·3 to the Future, Peace to the World"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The 72nd anniversary memorial ceremony for the Jeju 4·3 victims will be solemnly held on the 3rd at the Jeju 4·3 Peace Park area, hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and organized by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, with about 150 attendees including bereaved families.

This year's memorial ceremony, under the theme "Healing Pain, 4·3 to the Future, Peace to the World," is designed to transform the pain of 4·3 into healing, pass on its spirit to future generations, convey the values of peace and hope, and deliver messages of gratitude to those who have devoted themselves to 4·3.

The event will begin with an opening video featuring interviews with surviving victims and bereaved families, expressing hopes for the revision of the "4·3 Special Act," which includes the restoration of victims' honor, compensation and reparation, and trauma healing.

Following this, to promote intergenerational sharing of 4·3, Kim Dae-ho, a second-year middle school student and grandson of Yang Chun-ja (who was 3 years old at the time), daughter of victim Yang Ji-hong, will read a bereaved family story titled "Returning Home After 70 Years." Singer Kim Jin-ho will perform a live tribute song "Family Photo," a love confession to his father, accompanied by photo videos.

The ceremony will conclude with a video of bereaved families and residents singing and playing "The Sleepless Namdo" at 4·3 historic sites together.

After the memorial ceremony, attendees and visitors will pay respects by offering flowers and incense and visiting the memorial tablet room, to renew their understanding of the history of 4·3, pray for the souls of the deceased, and reflect on the spirit of "reconciliation and coexistence" of 4·3.

This year's ceremony will minimize the number of attendees in accordance with COVID-19 response and quarantine guidelines, thoroughly prepare infection prevention and quarantine measures including disinfecting all areas of the 4·3 Peace Park, and proceed with strict safety protocols.

In line with the memorial ceremony, a one-minute moment of silence siren will sound across Jeju Island at 10 a.m. to allow those unable to attend the ceremony to also have a time of remembrance for the 4·3 spirits.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.