Seoul recently completed its 2018 national budget, and it includes funding for a number of issues and programs related to the April 3rd Incident. As Mike Balfour now reports, some of the money is earmarked for exhumation work and the DNA identification of victims.



Report

Exhumation of victims of the April 3rd Incident began in 2006, a half century since the massacre.

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400 bodies exhumed

400 bodies buried during the massacre have been exhumed from (화북) Hwabuk, the site of the Jeju International Airport and (남원) Namwon.

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Exhumation stopped in 2011

The exhumations stopped in 2011 because the then national government didn’t allot any funds to the project.

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Only 92 victims identified

Due to the budget shortage, DNA identification could not continue.

Only 92 victims were identified.

The remaining 308 unidentified bodies have been placed at the shrine at the Jeju Peace Park.

Next year, however, the island can resume the exhumation and identification.

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Seoul earmarks \1.4b for exhumation

Seoul has finalized the 2018 national budget. Funds for exhumation have been included and the work can resume after 7 years of suspension.

1.38 billion won has been earmarked for the job.

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Exhumations to resume at airport, Bukchon, Seonheul, Gueok

The province will resume exhumation at Jeju International Airport, (북촌) Bukchon, (선흘) Seonheul and (구억) Gueok where it is presumed that victims were killed and buried.

Along with the exhumation, DNA identification for the 308 bodies at the Jeju Peace Park will be conducted.

INTERVIEW
Yun Seung-eon / Provincial April 3rd Incident Support Committee
In next year’s budget, 1.38 billion won has been earmarked for exhumations and the DNA identification of victims. This should be of some comfort for the elderly family members of the victims.
인터뷰)윤승언 제주특별자치도 4.3 지원과장
4·3 당시 행방불명인 유해발굴과 유전자 감식사업비가 내년도에 국가예산으로 13억8천만원이 반영됐습니다. 유전자 감식을 통해 가족을 찾음으로써 고령화된 유족들의 평생 한을 해소하는데...

Funds have also been allotted to other related jobs.

For the first time, 3 billion won will go to to the Jeju Peace Foundation.

1.5 billion won will be spent for diverse programs in 2018 to commemorate the upcoming 70th anniversary of the massacre.

390 million won will be used for working group activities and ceremonies.

There is quite a contrast between the budget allocations of the previous and current administrations.

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INTERVIEW
Yang Seong-hong / April 3rd Incident victims committee
With the recent changes, the national government is trying to correct the previous administration’s wrongdoing.
인터뷰)양성홍 제주 4.3 유족회 부회장
이런 것을 계기로 해서 제주 4·3 유족들한테 지금까지 잘 못했던 것들을 하나씩 풀어나가는 것이 당연한 것이라고 생각합니다.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Moon Ho-seong

These budgetary considerations will likely boost efforts to verify the truth behind the tragic events and bolster commemoration programs in the year of 70th anniversary of the massacre.

Mike Balfour, KCTV