Leading Korean Buddhist Monks Hold '4·3 Victims Memorial Ceremony' in Jeju

Emphasis on the Passage of the 4·3 Special Act Amendment

The Korean Buddhist Jogye Order Council (Chairman Ven. Wonhaeng) held a memorial service at the 4.3 Peace Park Memorial Plaza on the 20th. Photo by 4.3 Peace Foundation

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] The Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation announced on the 21st that monks representing the Korean Buddhist community commemorated the victims of the Jeju 4·3 incident and emphasized the passage of the revised 4·3 Special Act.

The Korean Buddhist Orders Council (Chairman Monk Wonhaeng, hereafter referred to as the Council) held a memorial service for the victims of Jeju 4·3 at the Jeju 4·3 Peace Park Memorial Plaza on the 20th.

Attending the memorial service were Monk Wonhaeng, chairman of the Korean Buddhist Orders Council and head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism; Monk Mundeok, head of the Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism and senior vice chairman of the Council; Monk Hoeseong, director of the Jinkak Order of Korean Buddhism and vice chairman of the Council; Monk Homyeong, head of the Taego Order of Korean Buddhism and vice chairman of the Council; Monk Inseon, director of the Buddhist Chongji Order and vice chairman of the Council; along with about 50 representative monks of Korean Buddhism, Kang Seung-cheol, Director of Jeju Province's Culture, Sports and External Cooperation Bureau; Kim Hee-hyun, Jeju Provincial Assembly member; Yang Jo-hoon, chairman of the Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation; Kim Chun-bo, executive vice chairman of the 4·3 Victims' Families Association; and Heo Young-seon, director of the 4·3 Research Institute.

In particular, at this event, which was the first to be held by monks representing the Buddhist community, prayers were offered for the peaceful rebirth in paradise of 16 monks and residents who were unjustly sacrificed during the 4·3 incident. They also urged the National Assembly to pass the revised special law for the restoration of honor and healing of the 4·3 victims.

In his memorial address, Monk Wonhaeng stated, “Over 70 years ago, Jeju was a tragic site where the souls of 30,000 people were buried under dark soil due to violence inflicted by the ideological rakes of the Cold War era. The Buddhist community also suffered great damage,” and added, “The Buddhist community will also lend its strength to the passage of the revised 4·3 Special Act.”

Following the address, the attendees, guided by Yang Jo-hoon, chairman of the 4·3 Peace Foundation, toured the memorial tablet enshrinement room, the missing persons' marker, and the enshrinement hall, sharing the history and pain of Jeju 4·3.

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