The Jeju 4.3 Memorial and Families Association of the U.S. launched
On July 16, 2021, the Jeju 4.3 Memorial and Families Association of the U.S. was officially launched. Suyeon Yang, a journalist, is the Chairwoman. Young Jun Yang, a doctor of Oriental medicine in Washington D.C, serves as the vice-chairman. Ms. Yang was head of the preparation committee for the American branch of the Jeju 4.3 Memorial and Families Association of the U.S. Youjo- Jeju 4.3 Massacre and wearing a camellia badge:' Offering his congratulations, Mr. Won added, "It is only the start in our effort to inform the world of the truth of the Jeju 4.3 Massacre and to share the values of justice and human rights:' Assemblyman Oh Young-hoon remarked, "2021 is a meaningful year in which all the special laws for the investigation of the truth of the Jeju 4.3 ung Kim (Yuna Kim), who is working on a doctoral thesis related to the Jeju 4.3 Massacre at the Johns Hopkins Universityin the United States, will serve as the secretary-general.
The Jeju 4.3 Memorial and Families Association, represented by the families of the Jeju 4.3 survivors, serves as the headquarter to resolve the issues involving the 4.3 incident in the United States. The association seeks to promote the discovery of the bereaved families of immigrants and the 4.3 victims in order to achieve the following: the restoration of honor, 4.3 truth investigation, solidarity and expansion, and education for the next generation.
The launching ceremony was held on July 16, 2021, as an online live (Zoom) session due to the pandemic.
In her inaugural address, Chairwoman Suyeon Yang said, "It's been a longtime since we left our homeland, but our 4.3 bereaved families will never forget the Jeju Massacre even when they come to America:' Jeju Provincial Governor Won Hee-ryong followed up, stating, "Now in Korea, everyone is talking about the Jeju 4.3 Massacre and wearing a camellia badge:' Offering his congratulations, Mr. Won added, "It is only the start in our effort to inform the world of the truth of the Jeju 4.3 Massacre and to share the values of justice and human rights:' Assemblyman Oh Young-hoon remarked, "2021 is a meaningful year in which all the special laws for the investigation of the truth of the Jeju 4.3 Massacre and the restoration of honor were revised:' Oh Im-jong, chairman of the Jeju 4.3 Bereaved Association, spoke of his hopes for the Jeju 4.3 Memorial and Families Association of the U.S: "To hold the U.S. accountable and to create a world where peace and human rights are alive is to comfort the heroic spirits who have been unfairly sacrificed:'Yang Jo-hoon, chairman oftheJeju4.3 Peace Foundation, reminded all of the importance of the mission: "The Jeju 4.3 Incident occurred during the U.S. Military Government, and the U.S. military advisors intervened positively and negatively during the suppression process. The timing of the launch of the Jeju 4.3 Memorial and Families Association of the U.S. is important. I expect our efforts to seek the truth and reconciliation in both South Korea and the U.S. to gain speed:' Chairwoman Yang also launched Walden Korea, a non-profit international academic exchange organization that studies human rights and peace, recognizing the importance of education for the next generation. Walden Korea will research the Jeju 4.3 Massacre and conduct seminars on the subject and other human rights issues. It appointed the Walden Korea Planning Committee undergraduate and graduate students in the U.S. and Korea, including students from Boston College, Johns Hopkins, Northeastern, Brandeis, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Studies, Kyunghee University, and Sogang University. The launch ceremony was sponsored by the Memorial Committee for the Jeju April 3rd Uprising and Massacre and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. ■