Three elderly islanders who have criminal convictions stemming from the April 3rd Incident visited Jeju to participate in the commemoration ceremony for the first time.

They were arrested and sentenced to years in prison on the charge of being pro-communist and other crimes without receiving proper trials seven decades ago.

They are now preparing for their retrial to regain their honor.

Mike Balfour reports.

[slug] Jeju International Airport

Ms. (변연옥) Byeon Yeon-ok, a victim of military courts during the April 3rd Incident, visits her hometown, Jeju.

Seven decades ago, she was arrested in the middle of the woods with her friend and sent to a prison in (전주) Jeonju on a trumped-up charge of rebellion.

[slug] 60 years away from hometown

In order to avoid the dreadful memory, she, living away from her hometown, has not attended an April 3rd commemoration ceremony over the last 60 years.

Recording
Byeong Yeon-ok / Convict of April 3rd Incident
Dear me! Who would’ve known I would be back in Jeju.
<싱크 : 변연옥 / 4·3 생존 수형인>
"아이고 어떻게 하면 좋아. 살고 보니까 글쎄 여길 왔어."

[slug] Talkfest between victims and provincial council
[slug] At Jeju Provincial Council

Three elderly victims of military courts visited the island to apply to the Jeju District Court for retrials of cases that had them convicted for offenses during the April 3rd Incident.

For the retrials, the provincial council invited those who have not visited their hometown for a long time.

Recording
Kim Tae-seok / Chairperson, Jeju Provincial Council
We believe that inviting them here is the least we can do to ease the pain the old victims are going through from the past ordeals.
<싱크 : 김태석 / 제주도의회 의장>
"어르신들에게 진 부채에 대해서 조금이라도 정신적으로 갚아드리는 게 도리일 거라고 생각했습니다."

[slug] Arrested for false charge of being communist

Another victim, Ms. (김정추) Kim Jeong-chu, was arrested and sentenced to years in prison, accused of being a leader of a communist propaganda division.

All she did before the arrest was to stamp her seal on a haenyeo application form.

[slug] Remaining silent for 71 years

To run away from the stigma of being a communist, she kept quiet while living in (부산) Busan for 71 years.

She recently decided make an effort to clear her name of the false charges before it is too late.

Recording
Kim Jeong-chu / Convict of April 3rd Incident
I believe the court will acquit us as wronged victims of the April 3rd Incident. We have spent our lives hiding, although we are innocent.
<싱크 : 김정추 / 4·3 생존 수형인>
"무죄를 받아야죠. (당연히 무죄 판결 받아야죠.) 당연히 받아야 되는거 아니겠습니까. 이때까지 우리 70여 년을 나 숨어 살았어요."

Three victims living on the mainland and nine victims living in Jeju are applying to the Jeju District Court for retrial.

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

The April 3rd Incident Fact-finding and Honor Restoration Coalition will begin the legal process for the twelve. This follows the criminal compensation for false imprisonment to 18 victims who applied for retrial and won in January this year.

Mike Balfour, KCTV