During Wednesdays April 3rd Memorial Ceremony, victims and bereaved families insisted that their political leaders expedite the passage of the revised bill for the April 3rd Incident Special Law.

They addressed Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon at the meeting, asking for support from Seoul on the issue.

Mike Laidman reports.

[slug] Rally demanding immediate passage of April 3rd Incident Special Law
[slug] Jeju April 3rd Peace Park

When the leaders of Korea’s political parties arrived at the Jeju April 3rd Peace Park, victims and bereaved families of the April 3rd Incident were vocal about the delay of passing the April 3rd Special Act.

Picketing was organized to demand the passing of the act without any further delays.

For more than one year, the National Assembly has failed to discuss the revision bill, and a reexamination of the proposal was again recently suspended.

Recording
We feel wronged. Please revise it. (Revise it! Revise it!)
<싱크 : 4.3 유족>
"너무 억울합니다. 개정해주세요. 개정해주세요.(개정하라! 개정하라!)”

[slug] State compensation is priority item for revisement

The top priorities included in the revised bill are the invalidation of the military court’s ruling, state compensation for families, and the establishment of a state trauma treatment center.

[slug] Revised bill drifted for more than 1 year

At last year’s commemoration, President (문재인) Moon Jae-in vowed to move towards completely solving the lingering issues of the April 3rd incident, and political leaders promised to commit themselves to passing a special, revised act.

But now it’s been more than a year since the bill was last discussed in the National Assembly, and those with connections to the tragedy are eagerly anticipating its passing.

Recording
Song Seung-mun / Jeju April 3rd Bereaved Family Association
The revised bill of the April 3rd Special Law has been proposed to the National Assembly, but lawmakers are sitting idle.
<싱크 : 송승문 / 제주4.3희생자유족회장>
"지금 국회에는 4.3특별법 개정안이 발의 중에 있지만, 남의 일처럼 손을 놓고 있는 모양새입니다."

[slug] Prime Minister vows government support

At a meeting with the prime minister following the commemoration, families expressed dissatisfaction over the delay and asked for an extension to the period where they can report damages.

The prime minister vowed government support in persuading the National Assembly to push through the revisions.

INTERVIEW
Lee Nak-yeon / Prime Minister
We are still unraveling what exactly happened. This process will not end unfinished. I’m not sure whether it will be completed during the Moon administration, but my office will take every effort.
<인터뷰 : 이낙연 / 국무총리>
"여전히 진상규명이 완성돼 있지 못하죠. 그것들을 계속 채워나가야죠. 문재인 정부 임기 중에 완성될 수 있다면 좋겠는데, 그게 완성까지 갈 수 있을지 모르겠습니다. 최대한 노력해야죠."

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

If the revision bill is not passed this year, it is expected to be delayed infinitely.

Victims and bereaved families have now been waiting for ages, or even longer, it seems, for proper actions to be taken by their politicians.

Mike Laidman, KCTV