President-elect Yoon: "4.3 Honor Restoration"... Democratic Party: "Empty Echo Must Not End"

"We pray for the eternal rest of the victims"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Cho Oh-seop, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed hope on the 74th anniversary of the Jeju 4.3 Uprising that "this promise will not remain an empty echo but will continue uninterrupted until a 'complete resolution' is achieved," addressing President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol.

On the morning of the 3rd, Cho held a press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "Unlike past conservative presidents, President-elect Yoon attended today's Jeju 4.3 memorial ceremony and promised to strive for complete restoration of honor."

On the same day, President-elect Yoon attended the 74th anniversary memorial ceremony for the victims of Jeju 4.3 held at the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park and said, "Healing the pain of 4.3 and caring for its scars is Korea's responsibility for reconciliation, coexistence, and moving toward the future," adding, "I will work to fully restore the honor of the victims and their bereaved families."

Regarding the 4.3 Uprising, Cho said, "According to the truth investigation report published by the government in 2003, it was a tragedy in modern history where 30,000 people, accounting for 10% of Jeju's population at the time, were sacrificed," and added, "President Moon Jae-in promised at the 70th anniversary memorial ceremony in 2018 that he would 'steadfastly move toward the complete resolution of 4.3.'"

He continued, "The Democratic Party also passed the amendment to the 'Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth and Restoration of Honor for the Victims of the Jeju 4.3 Incident' in June 2021 and is promoting the restoration of honor and compensation for the victims," emphasizing, "Through the amendment of the special law, 73 victims of military and civilian trials were all acquitted through ex officio retrials and special retrials, clearing their names after about 70 years. In the first half of this year, the government began an additional truth investigation including parts not covered in the 'Jeju 4.3 Truth Investigation Report' from 19 years ago, and from June, applications and payments for victim compensation have also started."

He added, "We pray for the eternal rest of those who were innocently sacrificed in this cruel tragic history and offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved families."