The survivors of the April 3rd Incident who were acquitted of all charges after the court's ruling last January will be given criminal compensation for the unjust conviction and wrongful imprisonment.
Mike Laidman reports.

[slug] Jeju District Court
The elderly are receiving a bundle of paper from the lawyer.

[slug] Court recognizes criminal compensation
That’s the court’s decision note for financial compensation for unlawful arrest during the April 3rd Incident.

[slug] Victims to receive criminal compensation for unjust imprisonment
Following the January’s ruling that the military court rulings during the April 3rd Incident were made illegally and are thus invalid, innocent victims claimed the criminal compensation for false imprisonment.
The court’s recent decision recognizes that wrongly convicted islanders were victim of unjustifiable governmental authority.

The court rules that 5.35 billion won in total should go to the victims.

[slug] \5.35B in compensation, based on period of detention
It was calculated based on the period of detention.

Daily compensation is 334,000 won, which is the highest by criteria of compensation.

[slug] Compensation: \80M - \1.4B
Individually, the compensation varies between 80 million won and 1.4 billion won.

Regardless of amounts, the judiciary’s decision is meaningful because it was state’s apology for the unlawful detention. .

[slug] Only 18 survivors out of 2,500+ receive compensation
However, the compensation is only for 18 survivors among more than 25 hundred islanders who were imprisoned on trumped up charges.

Meanwhile, mass retrials for other thousands cases look impossible.


[slug] Massive retrials are unrealistic, April 3rd Special Act needed
This is why revision of the April 3rd Special Act is needed to invalidate the groundless military trials and compensate for victims’ unlawful arrest.

Meanwhile, the Incident fact-finding and honor restoration coalition is preparing to apply for damage suits for the 18.

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Jwa Sang-eun
And, 8 other survivors will also petition for a retrial to clear their names next month.
Mike Laidman, KCTV