Uiryeong County Solemnly Holds the 3rd Uiryeong 4·26 Memorial Ceremony

Uiryeong County in South Gyeongsang Province solemnly held the 3rd Uiryeong 4·26 Memorial Ceremony at the Uiryeong 4·26 Memorial Park to honor the souls of the victims and console the bereaved families.

The ceremony, held on the 26th, was attended by more than 350 people, including 114 members from around 30 bereaved families, County Governor Tae-Wan Oh, heads of institutions and organizations, and local residents. Together, they remembered the pain of that day and shared deep condolences. The event proceeded solemnly, beginning with ancestral rites, followed by a memorial speech, a recitation of a consolation poem, and a floral tribute.

Memorial Address by County Governor Oh Taewan.
[Photo by Uiryeong County]

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The Uiryeong 4·26 Memorial Ceremony marked a historic turning point in 2024, as it was organized by the county government for the first time in 42 years since the incident occurred. In 2025, the memorial park was completed, and with the attendance of the Commissioner General of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, an official apology was made, adding further significance.

This year’s third ceremony was held quietly without a large-scale event, but the act of remembrance has become an annual tradition, not just a one-time occasion.

Notably, this year again, Kim Jongcheol, the Commissioner General of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, attended the memorial to honor the victims and reflect on the painful history.

During the ceremony, a consolation poem titled "Cherry Blossoms Have Fallen at Bonghwangdae, Azaleas Have Bloomed at Chalbisan," written by Uiryeong-born poet Kim Bokgeun, was recited to comfort the long-standing sorrow of the bereaved families.

All bereaved family members, including Jeon Wonbae, were present at the site. Jeon had previously expressed on a broadcast, "My wish is simply to have a memorial tower erected so we can place flowers." Jeon said, "I am grateful that we are able to do this at last. I have nothing but appreciation for Uiryeong County, which resolved an issue that had remained unresolved for so long. Only now do I feel some relief."

Governor Oh Taewan is wiping away tears in a solemn atmosphere.
[Photo by Uiryeong County]

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County Governor Tae-Wan Oh stated, "I thought I wouldn’t cry this year, but I found myself in tears again," and added, "It shows that this pain has still not ended." He continued, "Now, this has become a time of annual remembrance. We will ensure that the memorial park becomes a place of healing and harmony, where anyone can visit to remember and find comfort." He also emphasized, "We will strive for the enactment of the 4·26 Special Act to restore the honor of the victims and their families."

The Uiryeong 4·26 Incident, which took place in 1982, was a tragic event in which 56 innocent residents lost their lives due to a mass shooting by the police. Uiryeong County continues to honor the victims' memory and restore their dignity through the construction of the memorial tower and the creation of the memorial park.

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