The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs apologized after issuing a national merit certificate to the late Col. Park Jin-gyeong, who led harsh security operations on Jeju Island in 1948. Park's actions are cited in the official Jeju 4.3 Investigation Report and are linked to the wider killings that left about 30,000 islanders dead. Jeju Province condemned the award, will add contextual information to Park's memorial, and vowed to protect the historical record. The apology coincided with a court ruling ordering former politician Tae Yong-ho to compensate Jeju 4.3 bereaved families for defamatory statements.
South Korea Apologizes After Awarding National Honor To Colonel Linked To Jeju 4.3 Massacre
Several people preform a memorial service for their deceased family member before a tombstone in the Tombstone Park for the Missing with the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park, Jeju City, on April 3, 2023. File Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI
South Korea's government issued a formal apology to Jeju Province after it awarded a national merit certificate to the late Col. Park Jin-gyeong, a military officer associated with violent repression during the early phase of the Jeju 4.3 events.
Official Apology
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs apologized on Wednesday for issuing the certificate, saying it regretted the decision despite the award having followed legal procedures. In a statement, the ministry extended "sincere apologies to the Jeju 4.3 victims, their families and the people of Jeju."
Who Was Park Jin-gyeong?
Park served as commander of the 9th Regiment of the Korean Constabulary on Jeju Island after the April 3, 1948, uprising, when about 350 armed members of the South Korean Workers' Party's Jeju branch attacked 12 police stations. To suppress the revolt, Park led village sweeps, mass arrests and other security operations that terrorized the local population. He was on the island for roughly six weeks and was assassinated by a subordinate on June 18, 1948.
The official Jeju 4.3 Investigation Report cites testimony from a subordinate quoting Park at his inauguration: “In order to suppress the riot, it is fine if 300,000 Jeju people are victimized.”
Scale Of The Tragedy
The Jeju 4.3 Incident, spanning roughly 1947–1954, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 30,000 islanders—about 10% of Jeju's population at the time—and remains one of modern Korea's most painful historical wounds.
Controversy Over The Award
The ministry said the national merit certificate was issued on Nov. 4 after an application from Park's bereaved family. The national merit designation is a formal state honor, granted in the president's name, to commemorate an individual's contributions or sacrifices.
The award provoked strong opposition on Jeju. The provincial government expressed "deep regret" that Park had been registered as a national merit recipient and warned that awarding honors without full consideration of the historical context could cause confusion and harm in the local community. Jeju officials said Park's recognition stemmed from a military medal awarded decades earlier and argued that the current process can retraumatize victims and their families.
Local Response And Remedial Actions
Jeju Province said it will install an explanatory sign at Park's memorial that provides context about the Jeju 4.3 Incident and details of Park's activities during his time on the island. Governor Oh Young-hoon stressed that "the truth of 4.3 has been confirmed not through any particular viewpoint or political interpretation, but on the basis of the state's official report and the accumulated body of research." He added that the province will continue to convey the historical truth through fact-based explanations and to protect the honor of victims and their families.
Legal And Political Context
The apology coincided with a court ruling that former conservative politician Tae Yong-ho had defamed Jeju 4.3 victims and bereaved families by making false statements. In early 2023 Tae claimed the April 3, 1948, uprising was initiated by North Korean founder Kim Il Sung and his communist party; the official investigation found "no concrete evidence that the events were directed by the instructions of the headquarters of the South Korean Labor Party." The court ordered Tae to compensate the Jeju 4.3 Bereaved Families Association.
Next Steps
The ministry said it will prepare measures to prevent similar errors in awarding honors in the future and reiterated its apology to the victims, their bereaved families and the people of Jeju.
