In our April 2026 session of the Korea Peace Study Group, we collectively remembered the loss of Korean life to state-sponsored violence on Jeju island from 1948-1954. Although the South Korean government has acknowledged and apologized, the United States has never acknowledged its role in the massacres on Jeju Island despite issuing the order that led to the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians.
Before this session, study group members were encouraged to read or watch:
- Recent France 24 Report on Jeju 4.3
- Jiseul film (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4)
- Suni Samcheon, published in 1978 by Hyun Ki-yong, translated to English in 2012 by Junghi Lee
- 2003 Jeju 4.3 Incident Investigation Report
During the session, members shared different resources from which they had (or had NOT**) learned about Jeju 4.3:
- Women Cross DMZ’s webinar on the 4.3 Apology & Reconciliation
- The Island of Sea Women, by Lisa See
- We Do Not Part, Han Kang
- Bringing Fathers Home to Rest (news article)
- **Our Blues (2022, K-Drama)
- **When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025, K-Drama)
- After The Massacre, by Heonik Kwon:
- Bones and Ritual, 뼈와굿
- Recent TedX talk on the relevance of Jeju 4.3
- Myung-Lim Park’s “Jeju Model” for reconciliation
- Response to the “Jeju Model” in transitional justice
- Asia’s Unknown Uprisings, George Katsiaficas
- Hallan 한란 (2025, K-Movie)
- Jeju Prayer 비념 (2013, K-Movie)
- My Name 내 일음은 (2026, K-Movie)
- Soup and Ideology 수프와 이데올로기 (2022, K-Documentary)
- Red Hunt 1 빵갱이 사냥 (1997, K-Documentary)
- Red Hunt 2: State Crime 국가범죄 (2000, K-Documentary)
- Save Jeju Now (activist website)
Action Steps:
– Continue to pressure current and future Korean governments to speak of 4.3 as state-sponsored violence
– Ask US government to officially acknowledge this history and educate future generations
United States’ citizens can urge their government to end the Korean War and return sovereignty to the Korean people. One way to do this is by supporting the “Peace on the Korean Peninsula” bill in Congress (H.R. 1841). Contact your member of Congress today about the Peace on the Korean Peninsula bill.
About the Korea Peace Study Group
Playlist of past Korea Peace Study sessions
MORE FROM THE KOREA PEACE STUDY GROUP
Shamanism and Colonial Drag
In our March 2026 study session, Dr. Merose Hwang leads a discussion exploring historic spaces carved out between the poles of imperialism and nationalism and modern Korean spaces that seek to defy definition.
Donroe Doctrine: Pivot to the Americas?
In the February 2026 session of Korea Peace Study Group, learn about the US’ new National Security Strategy and its implications for our unended work for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Join us in 2026 for Korea peace studies?
Would you join us for Korea peace studies in 2026? You could choose an interesting book to read with friends – OR, review original sources and literature to build out a presentation on any topic related to Korea peace.
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