Investigators say about 25-hundred islanders were imprisoned on trumped up charges seven decades ago during the April 3rd Incident. Some of the survivors have petitioned for retrials to clear their names, and that process has begun. Mike Balfour reports.

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Jeju District Court

The old victims of military injustice visit court again.

18 survivors applied to the Jeju District Court for a resumption of retrials of people convicted of offenses during the April 3rd Incident.

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Retrials begin for 18 convicted of offenses during April 3rd Incident

The court has accepted their claim and they are going through legal trials after 70 years.

INTERVIEW
Yang Geun-bang / Convicted by military court
I spent years in jail and was shot several times. I have lived through a nightmare. I will maintain a pious spirit and live through the end of the trial to see justice for me and my comrades.
<인터뷰 : 양근방/ 4·3 수형인>
"감옥살이도 오래했고 총도 여러번 맞았고 그 악날 속에서 오늘날까지 내가 살아와서 우리 동료들한테도 이 재판이 끝날 때까지 경건한 정신으로 살아서 이겨보자"

INTERVIEW
Kim Pyeong-guk / Convicted by military court
I was severely beaten without knowing why. It’s like a dream that the retrial is happening.
<인터뷰 :김평국/4·3 수형인 >
"죄명도 모른 채 매 맞고...이런 날이 올 줄은 생각도 못 했습니다."

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No record of military trial verdicts

There are no records of verdicts at the military trials. Only a list of prisoners was submitted to the court.

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Retrials to focus on original charges

Therefore, the retrial will focus on what the 18 applicants were charged with.

INTERVIEW
Im Jae-seong / Lawyer for retrial applicants
Judges will see the cases based on prosecutors’ determination of applicants’ criminal charges. But there are no records for 1948 and 1949. The retrials should not take long.
<인터뷰 : 임재성/ 4·3재심 피고인 변호사>
"재심 재판에서 중요한 것은 피고인이라고 명명된 이 18분의 범죄사실을 검사가 특정하고 재판부가 판단하는 절차인데 다들 알다시피 이분들이 1948년과 1949년에 행했는지에 대한 기록이 남아 있지 않습니다. 그래서 아마도 재판이 길어질 것 같진 않습니다."

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Prosecutors, defense attorneys spar over questioning of survivors

At the retrial led by the district court’s head judge, (제갈창) Je
Gal-chang, there was a battle between prosecutors and defending
lawyers over whether survivors would be questioned.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol

The judge concluded that the questioning is necessary and says the final judgement will be rendered at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

After 70 years, the survivors hope for truth and clearing themselves of false charges.

Mike Balfour, KCTV