The Jeju 4·3 International Network sent an open letter to the Trump administration on Janualry 23, 2025, calling for a joint investigation to determine the truth about Jeju 4·3.
TO. The White House
January 23, 2025
Dear Mr. President,
Trump administration has been inaugurated on January 20, 2025. We hope 47th US President can be remembered as a leader who advanced the democracy, rather than regressed the history.
Recently, Republic of Korea has experienced a regression in democracy, due to unprecedented encroachments on the people's sovereignty and attempts at dictatorship by misguided leader. However, our democracy has been quickly recovered by the power of people who are the sovereigns of Republic of Korea.
The inauguration of the Trump administration has a duty as a global superpower to open an era of the human rights and peace, not merely to uphold “America First”. Especially in accordance with the spirit of the US Constitution, that prioritizes the protection of human rights, it is imperative to properly address and rectify historical wrongdoings.
Jeju 4·3 (also known as The April 3rd Uprising and Massacre) is a history that is not well-known globally including in the United States. However, it is directly links to the US during the Cold War era.
Jeju 4·3 was state violence that occurred between 1947 and 1954 on Jeju Island. Over 30,000 people were massacred on Jeju Island, located in the southern part of South Korea. It was equivalent to 10% of the island's population at the time. It was the result of severe suppression by the Rhee Syngman administration, South Korean military and police, who were under the operational control of the US military, targeting those people who opposed the police's violence and the division of the Korean Peninsula.
In 2000, Jeju 4·3 Special Law on the Investigation of the Truth and Restoration of Victims' Honour was enacted in South Korea. According to this enaction, the South Korean government formed a National Committee for the Investigation of the Truth about the Jeju April 3rd Incident under the Prime Minister's Office and released an investigation report in 2003. The report clearly states that Rhee Syngman administration is responsible for the Jeju 4·3. At the time, President Roh Moo Hyun became the first head of state to apologize for the acts of state violence.
US government cannot avoid its responsibility for this massacre, as Jeju 4·3 massacre and atrocities occurred during the US military government and under the US operational control, even though the main period of massacre was post to the establishment of South Korean government.
This is based on the Executive Agreement on Interim Military and Security Matters during the Transitional Period, which was signed on August 24, 1948, the US Army Forces in Korea (USAFIK) held operational control over the South Korean Constabulary and provided US weapons and reconnaissance aircrafts for the actual crackdown.
Unfortunately, the US government has remained silent for nearly 80 years. In the meantime, most survivors who had endured traumatic memories of the massacre passed away.
There is limited time left for the survivors of Jeju 4‧3. However, the painful memories of the Jeju 4‧3 remain deeply etched in the survivors' minds.
We remember that former President Donald Reagan apologized and compensated for forcibly migrating 120,000 Japanese-Americans to camps during the World War II after 44 years’ time. Also in 2009, the former President Barak Obama signed a bill that includes a resolution apologising for the killings of the Native Americans which happened more than 100 years ago.
We, on the name of people-loving people around the world, call on the Trump's administration. Four years ago, we made the same demand to the Biden administration, but we have yet to receive a response.
In the meantime, the Jeju Provincial Council officially adopted a resolution holding the U.S. military government's responsibility for the Jeju 4‧3. In addition, bills and resolutions urging the US to clarify its responsibility were also submitted to the National Assembly of South Korea.
The US government must investigate the Jeju 4‧3 and take corresponding measures according to the “Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law” which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005. To this end, we urge the US and South Korean government to establish a joint investigation team to take responsible measures including fact-finding mission.
"Delayed justice is not justice". The Trump administration must rectify the 'delayed justice' that has already reached an irreparable state.
There is no statute of limitations on correcting historical wrongdoings.
We hope and expect the Trump administration to take responsibility and demonstrate accountability for the crimes against humanity committed under the name of Jeju 4.3.
This open letter is endorsed by below organizations:
Pan National Committee of the Jeju April 3rd Uprising and Massacre
Association for the Bereaved Families of Jeju 4.3 victims in Japan
Jeju 4.3 Memorial and Families Association of the U.S.
Taiwan 4.3 Comrades Association
Group for Remembering Jeju 4.3 – Osaka
Memorial Committee for the Jeju April 3rd Uprising and Massacre (Association for the Bereaved Families of Jeju 4.3 victims, Jeju 4.3 Commentary Association, Jeju April 3rd People's Solidarity, Jeju 4･3 Research Institute, Jeju Archive for Democratization Movement, Jeju Association for Women's Rights, Jeju Dark Tours, Jeju Disability Rights Forum, Jeju Ecotourism Association, Jeju Ecotravel, Jeju National University Alumni Association of Democracy, Jeju Peace Human Rights Institute WHAT, Jeju Peace Humanrights Center, Jeju People on Mainland, Jeju People's Artist Federation, Jeju Research Association for Alternative Society, Jeju Solidarity for Participatory Self-government & Environmental Preservation, Jeju Sovereignty Alliance for Peace and Unification, Jeju Women's Association, Jeju YMCA, Jeju Young Korean Academy, Jeju Youth Group for Unification, Jeju Youth Social Cooperative, Jeju YWCA, Hansalim Jeju, iCOOP Jeju, Korean Federation for Environmental Movement Jeju, Gotjawal People, Korean Peasant Association Jeju, Korean Teachers' Union – Jeju office, Korean Women's Peasant Association Jeju, Korean Youth Center Jeju Office, Martyre Yang Yong-Chan Memorial Association,Research Center for Jeju Culture N History Commentary, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Jeju Regional Council, People's Solidarity for Self-Governing in Jeju, Roh Moo Hyun Foundation Jeju Commission, Seogwipo Citizens Alliance, Seogwipo Women's Association,Seogwipo Citizens Alliance, Seogwipo Women's Association, The Sewol Ferry Memorial Center in JEJU Island, Hannae - Korean Labor History Data Center Jeju committee. General Student council of Jeju National University, Unification and Peace Education Center, Civic Political Alliance Jeju Gachi, National Government Employees' Union Jeju Office, Jeju Buddhist Association for Commemorating 4.3 victims)
