77th Anniversary of Jeju 4·3 Victims Commemoration Ceremony Held
On April 3, 2025, approximately 20,000 attendees, including surviving victims and their families, gathered at the Jeju 4·3 Peace Park for the '77th Anniversary of the 4·3 Victims Commemoration Ceremony.' This year's event was themed 'The Breath of 4·3 is History, the Wave of Peace is Global,' emphasizing the resilience of the Jeju people and extending messages of comfort and hope to those who have faced similar tragedies worldwide.
The ceremony commenced at 10 AM with a moment of silence to honor the 4·3 victims, followed by flower offerings, speeches, poetry readings, family stories, and memorial performances. A 3D representation of the 'Peace Bell' was unveiled, symbolizing the number 7 to mark the 77th anniversary, and the bell was rung seven times. A siren signaled a minute of silence across Jeju Island.
Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivered a poignant speech, stating, 'The spirit of Jeju 4·3 teaches us the importance of unity and coexistence. If we cannot overcome conflicts of ideology, generations, regions, and classes, it will be difficult to navigate the current crisis and achieve sustainable growth for South Korea.' He expressed hope that the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation from 4·3 would unite the nation and propel it toward a brighter future, assuring that the government would strive to foster true harmony and integration.
During the ceremony, cultural historian Hong Chun-ho shared the history of the Jeju 4·3 incident through storytelling. A video presentation highlighted efforts to register Jeju 4·3 records as UNESCO World Documentary Heritage.
A touching family story was shared about the late Kim Hee-sook, who was 29 during the 4·3 incident. Genetic testing of her remains led to a reunion of three generations, including her son Kim Kwang-ik and grandson Kim Kyung-hyun, after over 70 years.
The ceremony concluded with a memorial performance by singer Yang Hee-eun and the Bella Children's Choir, who sang 'The Song of the Camellia Flower' and 'Evergreen.'
