[Opinion] Jeju Peace Park

A peace park on Jeju Island under construction in the middle of Mount Halla seeks to remember those killed in the 1948 communist uprising by government troops. Started in 2002 and slated for completion next year, the park is estimated to cost a staggering 99.3 billion won. It is located in Rough Oreum, a small parasitic volcano crater, towards 5.16 road and Seongsan Ilchulbong connecting the cities of Jeju City and Seogwipo. In the observance of the 60th anniversary of the massacre, many tourists have visited this park to reflect on the event.

A massive marble inscribed with a host of names is the first thing attracting attention when entering the cenotaph erected in honor of the victims. Some 13,500 names categorized by village are engraved on the black marble. The sheer number of those killed in the massacre is a bit of a surprise. The number of bereaved families is said to be close to 30,000, a figure that shows how the horrific incident ripped apart the peaceful island. In the wake of several commemorative events such as the unveiling of the memorial altar and tower, Peace Memorial Hall opened Friday. The victims’ families and progressive groups have called these events a great achievement to correct the 60-year-old isolated history of the so-called Jeju April 3 incident.

Conservative groups such as The Korean Veterans Association, however, have criticized the monument as something projected from left-wing views. Visitors can easily spot a leaflet written by the communist insurgents saying, “Oppression Means Uprising” or the provocative titles “Resistance to Police Suppression,” “Relentless Massacre,” and “Jeju Was a Huge Prison and Place of Slaughter.” Photos show executions by firing squad and the head of the Army Security Command. Namro-dang, a communist faction established after Korea’s liberation from Japan, is referred to as an organization backed by the public and U.S. troops, which appeared in South Korea after liberation, are called an “occupational force.” Some have strongly expressed their discontent that the exhibition conceals the atrocities committed by leftist rioters and denies the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea.

More heated controversy is expected when a historical record room is established. Conservative groups who call the incident a riot say those killed in the incident deserve sympathy, but that it is nothing short of historical distortion to consider the event oppression or a massacre. It would help people to understand that the uprising was led by communist insurgents if objective material is included in the exhibition. Under the supervision of the Jeju government, the island’s residents Thursday will hold a memorial service for the incident. Attention is also on the address by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, who will attend the service on behalf of the government.

Editorial Writer Yuk Jeong-su (sooya@donga.com)