The April 3rd Trauma Center has opened in an effort to both mentally and physically heal victims and their families of the April 3rd Incident. The center will provide psychotherapy and rehabilitation programs for them.
Joseph Kim reports.

Thousands of islanders were arrested and sentenced to years in prison on the trumped-up charge during the April 3rd Incident without a proper trial seven decades ago.
Some of them applied for retrials, and had their names cleared by a court in 70 years.


Without healing from the trauma, the victims have died or are old and weak.
About 18,000 victims including people who become disabled after experiencing the traumatic event, their relatives are suffering unspeakable pain.


The April 3rd Trauma Center has opened for the victims.


As the nation’s first trauma center in (광주) Gwangju for victims of the May 18 (광주) Gwangju Democratic Movement, it also provides psychotherapy, art therapy and rehabilitation programs.

Recording
Yang Jo-hoon / Chair, April 3rd Peace Foundation
This trauma center is established to mentally and physically heal victims of unjust events by governmental authority including the April 3rd Incident. We’ll make efforts to make this center the nation’s best.
<씽크:양조훈/4.3 평화재단 이사장>
"4·3 등 국가 권력에 의해 피해를 입은 분들의 신체적, 정신적 아픔을 치유하는 곳입니다. 대한민국의 대표적인 트라우마센터가 되도록 최선을 다하겠습니다."


Seoul congratulates the island on the opening and promises national support for the center’s promotion in status to a national center.

Recording
Kim Geo-sung / Representative, Presidential Secretariat
We fully support the center’s function of healing victims. The center’s performance will be evaluated to make up for the weak points, which will pave the road to the center’s promotion to a national center.
<씽크:김거성/대통령비서실 시민사회수석>
"4·3트라우마센터가 도민들의 응어리와 멍에를 떨쳐낼 수 있도록 적극 지원하겠습니다. 성과를 점검하고 강화될 부분은 보완해서 중장기적으로 국가트라우마센터 승격을 준비하도록 하겠습니다."

Relatives of victims hope the place to be their haven where they can freely talk about their tearful experience.


As of now, more interest and support for the new-born center is needed for the center to offer systemic and specialized healing programs tailored to the demands of aged victims.

Joseph Kim, KCTV