Students from a local middle school are learning about the April 3rd Incident in a unique way - from their elderly neighbors who witnessed the terrible events. Mike Balfour has more.



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Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City

Students leave their school for a unique field trip.

They visit an elderly woman of their community to listen to her stories about the April 3rd Incident.

The woman vividly describes the horrible times to the young students.

Recording
April 3rd Incident victim
The April 3rd Incident was fear. We sang and shouted “Give us liberty, or give us death.” We all were arrested and charged.
<씽크 : 4.3 피해할머니>
"4·3이 그렇게 무서운 건 줄 몰랐어. 와�X~ 와�X~ 자유가 아니거든 죽음을 달라! 그 노래를 부른 사람들이 다 순경한테 잡혀가서 범인이 돼버린 거야."

The teenagers give her serious attention.

INTERVIEW
Byeong Ji-hye / Jeocheong Middle School student
I learned and understood more about that part of history from her. It was very touching and sad.
<인터뷰 : 변지혜/저청중 1학년>
"할머니가 직접 자세하게 말씀해 주셔서 좀 더 그런 역사에 대해 잘 알게 됐고, 슬프고 가슴에 많이 와 닿았던 것 같아요."

The program is organized to facilitate communication between generations by sharing stories of the April 3rd Incident ; stories that are rarely taught at schools.

INTERVIEW
Im Ae-deok / Cheongsu Social Welfare Corporation
Students cannot fully understand the April 3rd Incident from books. This program helps the children sympathize with their elders’ pain from the incident, and that contributes to their love of home.
<인터뷰 :임애덕/사회복지법인 청수 이사장>
"글자로만 활자화된 이야기들을 (배워와서) 공감대가 많이 떨어진다고 볼 수 있거든요. 그런데 세대 간 소통 프로그램을 통해 가족간 실제로 발생했던 일들을 뼈저리게 체험하고 할머니, 할아버지의 아픔을 이해하면서 제주지역을 더 사랑하게 되는… "

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Students record interviews of elderly neighbors

About 30 students from (저청) Jeocheong Middle School visited their old neighbors and interviewed them.

They also took video of the interviews.

They will share what they learned and felt with their classmates.

For the young students, the April 3rd Incident was just an entry in a history textbook.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Park Byeong-joon

But through the communication program, they learn to sympathize and remember that sad chapter of the island’s history.

Mike Balfour, KCTV