Governor Won Hee-ryong: "We Will Not Stop Efforts to Uncover the Truth of 4·3"

Visiting Gasiri Area Where 3 Harmful Objects Were Found on the 31st to Pay Tribute to the Spirits

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won] Won Hee-ryong, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, emphasized on the 31st, "We will not stop efforts to uncover the truth of the Jeju 4·3 incident for its complete resolution."

Governor Won made this statement in a memorial address at the "4·3 Victims' Remains Excavation Field Report Meeting" held at Gasi-ri, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo City, where three presumed remains were discovered, at 3 p.m. that day.

The field report meeting was attended by Governor Won Hee-ryong, Cho Nam-soo, Chairman of the Provincial Council, Oh Im-jong, President of the Jeju 4·3 Victims' Families Association, Yang Jo-hoon, Chairman of the Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation, among others.

Starting with a memorial ceremony hosted by the Jeju 4·3 Victims' Families Association, the excavation status was explained by Park Geun-tae, Director of the Ilyeong Cultural Heritage Research Institute, who was in charge of the on-site trial excavation, followed by an explanation of genetic analysis by Professor Lee Soong-deok of Seoul National University’s Department of Forensic Medicine.

The event concluded with testimony from Kang Gun-seop, a resident of Gasi-ri who first reported the excavation site.

Governor Won said, "Today, we have brought three victims who had been in darkness for many years back into the arms of the residents," expressing deep condolences and bowing his head in respect for the victims.

He continued, "We will find the name of each victim and bring them back to their families," adding, "We will work together so that the bereaved families can heal their wounds and achieve a complete resolution of the 4·3 incident."

He further stated, "Through this excavation of remains, I hope that the memories of 4·3, which remain a great pain for the bereaved families, will return to the hearts of all citizens as a historical record overcoming the dark past of the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, Jeju Province plans to collect samples from the three presumed remains for identification and will find the victims' names through genetic analysis so that they can return to their families.

After sample collection, the remains will be recovered and enshrined at the 4·3 Peace Park Memorial Hall, and if the bereaved families are identified and request it, the excavated remains will be handed over to them in the future.

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