Authorities: "Illegal Items Defaming Bereaved Families, Not Political Party Banners"
4.3 Special Act Specifies "Prohibition of False Information Dissemination"
The local government authorities in Jeju City, Seogwipo City, and other municipalities within Jeju Province announced plans to forcibly remove banners containing false information about the Jeju 4·3 Incident. These banners are considered illegal as they severely damage the honor of the 4·3 victims' families, and the authorities intend to remove them promptly.
On the 30th, Jeju City Mayor Kang Byung-sam and Seogwipo City Mayor Lee Jong-woo issued a joint statement regarding the distorted 4·3 banners. They described the recent banners displayed across Jeju as "not party banners containing party policies or political issues, but illegal banners that blatantly violate the 4·3 Special Act and severely damage the honor of the 4·3 victims' families," adding, "We will remove them promptly through proper legal procedures." They further urged, "Please trust the administration's determination to remove them and absolutely refrain from damaging the banners yourselves."
The banners in question were put up on the 21st by the Our Republican Party, Liberty Party, Liberty Democratic Party, and Liberty Unification Party, containing the phrase, "The Jeju 4·3 Incident was a communist riot instigated by Kim Il-sung and the South Korean Workers' Party opposing the founding of the Republic of Korea." These banners appeared near the 4·3 Peace Park ahead of the 75th anniversary memorial ceremony for the Jeju 4·3 victims, angering the bereaved families. The parties claim to have hung about 80 banners in total, but the provincial investigation identified 59 banners.
Jeju City and Seogwipo City plan to remove all the distorted 4·3 banners over three days, from the 31st until the day before the 4·3 memorial ceremony on the 2nd of next month.
Jeju City Mayor: "Legal Review Completed... Not Party Activity"
Jeju City Mayor Kang Byung-sam stated during an urgent inquiry by the Jeju Provincial Council's 4·3 Special Committee, "We have completed internal legal reviews as well as external legal consultations." According to Jeju City's legal review, "Party policies refer to directions taken by parties for the national interest, and political issues imply matters open to debate, but the content of these banners is false information that contradicts the definition set by the national 4·3 Special Act, so they cannot be considered party policies or political issues."
The current 4·3 Special Act explicitly states, "No one shall publicly defame victims or their families by spreading false information about the investigation results or the Jeju 4·3 Incident, thereby damaging the honor of victims, families, or related organizations."
Previously, the Jeju Provincial Election Commission (Election Commission) caused controversy by stating that the banners "fall under normal party activities." However, Jeju City received a verbal response from the Election Commission clarifying that "this is only an interpretation under the Political Parties Act and does not extend to violations of the 4·3 Special Act or other laws." Therefore, the city judged that the banners, containing false information, are not protected under the "Act on the Management of Outdoor Advertisements and the Promotion of Outdoor Advertising Industry" (Outdoor Advertising Act). According to this act, parties can install banners related to party policies or political issues protected as normal party activities without restrictions on quantity or location.
Democratic Party Responds with 'Critical Banners'
Meanwhile, in response to the distorted 4·3 banners, Democratic Party lawmakers hung new banners over them reading, "Oh spirits of 4·3, do not forgive them. Shut the mouths of the old colorism that distorts the truth." Additionally, a man in his 60s from Jeju was booked on charges of special property damage for damaging nine banners with a cutter knife. The man told Yonhap News, "I tore the banners hoping that even one less victim's family would have to see them," criticizing, "At a time when we are just beginning to heal the painful memories of 4·3, these bad elements hung banners like sharp salt to mock those who are hurting."
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