We are almost ready to cross over to Jeju Island for the ceremony and President Moon Jae-in's speech.
In the meantime,... let's get some more in-depth analysis of the Jeju April Third Incident from an expert.
We'll be keeping a close eye on the goings on in Jeju as we go as we await the president.
Joining us is An Junseong, Visiting Professor from J.D. Michigan State University, currently at Yonsei University in Seoul.
Thanks for coming.
Q1. I’d like to ask you to explain in detail what happened during the “Jeju April 3rd” or “April Third incident”? Even for many Koreans, it’s an unfamiliar but important part of the country’s history…
Q2. Official reports say around 14,400 people were killed, but some estimates put the figure more like 30,000, which would have been 10 percent of the island’s population at the time. Why were the actions of the soldiers against innocent civilians so severe?
Q3-1. For someone just hearing about the history, I suspect it’s quite hard for them ? especially our international viewers ? to wrap their heads around the events that took place. Would you say the “April Third incident” played the main role in Jeju islanders’ identity as it is today?
Q3-2. And would you say the massacre drove a wedge between Jeju islanders and those from the mainland. And is there still a wedge that exists even now?
Q4. Can you tell us about government efforts to compensate the survivors and the bereaved families. What did they receive and do you think it was sufficient? (What more should be done?)
Q5-1. What’s your take on the commemoration? And what significance do you put on President Moon attending this year’s ceremony?
Q5-2. Is this part of President Moon’s desire to make history right and digest it however painful it may be? In his draft of a bill on amending the Constitution, he added references to democratic movements in the preamble to his proposal for the Constitutional changes.
Q6. President Moon served as chief of staff to late former president Roh Moo-hyun, who in October 2003, apologised on behalf of the national government for the April Third incident. He was the first incumbent leader to do so. Do you think another reason for President Moon to attend today is his ongoing close affection for his former boss?
Q7. South Korean leaders before President Moon didn’t attend previous ceremonies. Do you think it was their duty to go… and should it continue to be the duty of future presidents ? regardless of their political affiliations ? to attend this ceremony?
Q8. During my research for our chat, I read that Jeju islanders weren’t allowed to to talk publicly about the April Third incident until 1997. Can you explain why the people of Jeju weren’t allowed to speak up until then… and what changed in 1997.
Q9-1. Since it wasn’t in the public discourse for so many decades as it was purged from historical records, do you think the people of Korea have had enough time to squarely face the history of the April third incide
