Some of islanders were arrested and sentenced to years in prison during the April 3rd Incident without a proper trial seven decades ago.

In 2017, some of the survivors applied for retrials and had had their names cleared by a court.

Families of missing victims filed reconsideration bills the Jeju District Court to restore the victims’ honor.

Mike Laidman reports.

Report

A grey-haired, elderly man with a cane visits the Jeju District Court, supported by some helpers.

He has come all this way to apply for the retrial of cases that had his family members convicted for offenses during the April 3rd Incident.

[slug] Association for Missing 4.3 Victims applies for retrials

The Association for Bereaved Families of Missing April 3rd Incident Victims is the applicant.

It’s been 70 years since the military courts which took their loved ones took place.

Kim Pil-mun / Assn for Families of Missing 4.3 Victims
We could no longer withhold our grief and agreed to request retrials in the name of the victims.
< 김필문 / 제주4·3희생자유족 행방불명인 유족협의회장 >
몇 백배 더 억울함이 있어도 참고 누르고 지금까지 오다가 이제는 더 이상 안되겠다는 생각에서 같이 뜻을 모아서 재심 청구하고 있습니다.

[slug] Among the 2530 on prisoner list, 10 families request retrial

Among the more than 2,500 people who were on the prisoner lists made during the April 3rd Incident, families of 10 have joined the retrial request. Their relatives were sentenced to between a five-year term in martial prisons, or else simply given the death sentence.

Lee Sang-ha / Applicant for retrial of older brother
All of my eight family members were shot to death just because we went into the woods. I was the only survivor.
< 이상하 / 형 이기하 관련 재심 청구 >
산에 갔다는 이유로 가족 8명이 다 몰살당했습니다. 저도 같이 있었는데 총을 안맞고 살아남았습니다.

[slug] After 70 years, families want relatives’ names cleared by court

Some families have been in limbo, tortured by grief for 70 years, not knowing if their missing family members are alive or dead.

All they hope for is to have their family members’ names cleared by the court.

Hyeon Gyeong-a / Applicant for retrial for husband
I hope the April 3rd Incident is put right. Please find the body of my husband.
< 현경아 / 남편 오형율 관련 재심 청구 >
제가 원하는 것은, 4.3을 어떻게든 바로잡아서 우리 남편 시체만이라도 찾아주세요.

[slug] Family members represent missing victims

Family members of the missing victims will represent in place of their relatives, and give their testimony in court.

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Kim Yong-min

It was on January 17 of this year that the court concluded that the military court rulings made during the incident were invalid. This was because the charges the court gave under martial law were not clearly defined and because there were no proper legal procedures.

Song Seung-mun / Association for Families of Missing 4.3 Victims
The court exonerated 18 plaintiffs wrongly convicted during the 4.3 Incident. I believe the court will make the right decision again.
< 송승문 / 제주4·3희생자유족회장 >
생존수형인 18명에 대한 공소기각과 무죄 판결이 났기 때문에 재판부는 현명한 판단을 할 것이라고 믿고 있습니다.

Mike Laidman, KCTV