Ruling Party Rep. Kim Seongbeom Proposes Special Law Amendment to Revoke Honors for Suppressing Jeju 4.3

Honors to be revoked and medals reclaimed if leading or participating in human rights violations is confirmed
Spreading false information about the April 3 Incident prohibited... Violators face up to five years in prison

Rep. Kim Seongbeom of the Democratic Party of Korea, who represents Seogwipo, introduced a bill to amend a special law, allowing honors awarded for contributions to suppressing the Jeju 4.3 Incident to be revoked and medals and other awards to be reclaimed.

A bereaved family member pays tribute to the victims at a memorial marker for the missing at Jeju 4·3 Peace Park in Bonggae-dong, Jeju City, on the morning of April 3, the 77th anniversary of Jeju 4·3 Memorial Day. 2025.4.3 [Jeju Provincial Photojournalists Association] Yonhap News

Rep. Kim said on November 13 that he had introduced a partial amendment to the Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth of the Jeju 4.3 Incident and the Restoration of Honor of Victims.

The amendment would allow honors awarded for related contributions to be revoked and medals and other awards to be reclaimed if an investigative body or a final court ruling confirms that the recipient led or actively participated in illegal human rights violations, including massacres of civilians and torture, during the suppression of the April 3 Incident.

It would also prohibit spreading false information about the April 3 Incident through newspapers, broadcasting, the internet, public gatherings, or public statements. Violators would face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.

The bill also establishes a basis for supporting the stable operation of the Association of Bereaved Families of Jeju 4.3 Victims. The state and local governments would be able to provide operating subsidies and reduce or waive fees for the use or lease of state-owned and public property. Unauthorized use of the association's name or similar names would also be prohibited.

It would also improve procedures for protecting the rights of victims and their bereaved families. If an applicant dies before a committee makes a decision, another person eligible to apply could take over the proceeding. The bill also establishes special provisions regarding the deadline for claiming criminal compensation and the timing for exercising the right to claim state compensation. It would also allow the spouse, children, and grandchildren of a victim who had been in a de facto adoptive parent-child relationship to file an adoption report after the victim's death.

In addition, the bill explicitly identifies the healing of victims and their bereaved families as a state responsibility and strengthens the legal basis for preserving records related to the April 3 Incident and supporting education and public outreach.

Rep. Kim said, "We must correct the unjust honors awarded for contributions to suppressing the April 3 Incident and ensure that the honor of victims and their bereaved families is not damaged by the spread of false information that distorts historical truth."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.