[Subtitle] 커밍 홈 Coming Home_Jeju April 3rd documentary

Summary

「帰還」は、1948年に発生した朝鮮半島の済州島での「4.3事件」の被害者家族の物語を追うドキュメンタリーです。事件の犠牲者のうち、李漢晋（Lee Hanjin）さんの家族が中心です。李さんは事件後にアメリカに亡命し、長年にわたって自身の過去を語ることを避けてきたが、事件から76年後の現在、彼は家族の遺骨を探して故郷に帰還し、過去の悲劇に向き合う決意をします。遺骨のDNA検査により、彼の兄が確認され、家族は再会を果たします。また、事件の真実を追求する取り組みや、非公開の再審によって無罪判決を受けた人々への関心も描かれています。この物語は、過去の悲劇を忘れずに伝えるために、李さんの家族が抱える複雑な感情と共に、現代の歴史の悲劇を伝える力強いメッセージを残します。

Takeaways

• 📚 このドキュメンタリー映画は、済州4.3事件の被害者家族の物語を追っています。
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 李漢洙（Hanjin Lee）さんは、事件によって家族を失い、アメリカに移住しました。
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 李さんの家族は、事件の犠牲者のうち4人を失いました。母親、姉妹、そして2人の兄弟です。
• 🕍 事件の後、李さんはソウルに移住し、アメリカに渡ることで過去から逃れようとしました。
• 🗝️ 李さんの第2の兄弟である李漢成（Hansung Lee）さんの遺骸が、済州空港から回収されました。
• 🏙️ ニューヨークに住む李さんは、4.3事件に関する記事を毎日検索し、過去の事件を忘れずに伝え続けています。
• 📰 政府は4.3事件を、政府権力による民間人の犠牲者と認定しています。
• 🏞️ 事件によって、済州島の80%が焼失し、約3万人が犠牲となりました。
• 👮‍♂️ 当時の国家防衛法に基づく非公式の‘幽霊法’により、多くの人々が正当な理由もなく軍事裁判を受け、処刑されました。
• 🏛️ 2023年9月26日に、4.3事件で不当に禁固された2,530人の再審が始まり、無罪判決が下されました。
• 👪 李さんの息子と孫たちは、家族の過去と4.3事件の真実を知るために、積極的に学び続けています。
• 🌟 この物語は、現代史の悲劇を生き抜いできた生存者たちの物語であり、忘れ去られるべきではありません。

Q & A

「Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation」とは何ですか？

「Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation」とは、1948年に発生したjeju島での大量虐殺事件、いわゆる「4.3事件」の犠牲者とその家族を支援し、平和を促進する活動を行う非営利組織です。

Hanbin LeeとHansung Leeはどのような関係を持っていますか？

Hanbin LeeとHansung Leeは兄弟関係にあります。彼らは、1948年の4.3事件の犠牲者であり、Hanbinは行方不明となり、Hansungは遺体が発見され、身元が確認されました。

「Coming Home」というドキュメンタリー映画は、どのようなストーリーを描いていますか？

「Coming Home」は、4.3事件の犠牲者の一人であるHan Sung Leeの兄、Han Jin Leeが、76年ぶりに故郷のJeju島に帰還し、家族の過去と和解を求める旅を描いたドキュメンタリー映画です。

Han Jin Leeが持っている南コリアのパスポートは、彼の過去のどの部分を象徴していますか？

Han Jin Leeが持つ南コリアのパスポートは、彼が米国に渡米し、新しい生活を求めた時期を象徴しています。また、当時はギルティバイアソシエーション（連帯責任）で疎外された恐れがあったと感じていた時期を思い出させるものです。

Jeju島の4.3事件の犠牲者数はどのくらいですか？

公式には14,000人の犠牲者が認められていますが、4.3事件の追跡調査報告書では、犠牲者の数は25,000から30,000人と推定されています。

4.3事件で処刑された人々が、なぜ非公開で坑道に埋葬されたのですか？

4.3事件で処刑された人々は、当時の国家防衛法に基づく非公式の「幽霊法」によって、正当な理由もなく軍事裁判を受け、一般市民として扱われることなく処刑されていたとされています。彼らの遺体は、非公開で坑道に投じられ、その後 SECRETLY 埋葬されました。

Han Jin Leeが持つ古い写真とは何ですか？

Han Jin Leeが持つ古い写真は、彼の第二の兄、Hansung Leeのものです。Hansung Leeは中国で学業を終えた後、Jeju島に帰ってハングル（韓国の文字）を教えていたとされています。

4.3事件に関する裁判の再審が行われた理由は何ですか？

4.3事件に関する裁判の再審が行われたのは、当時の裁判で証拠なしに被告が起訴され、不適切に処罰されたと判断されたためです。再審により、約2,530人の被告に対して無罪判決が下されました。

Jeju島の4.3事件をめぐって、李先生はなぜ長い間語らなかったのですか？

4.3事件について語ることは、当時の政治的・社会的な状況下で困難であったためです。また、李先生は家族にその悲劇の重さを感じさせたくないと考え、詳細については語らなかったとされています。

Han Jin Leeの家族が行った「4.3平和記念館」には何がありますか？

「4.3平和記念館」には、4.3事件の犠牲者のうち、身元が確認された140人の遺骨が安置されています。また、身元が不明の犠牲者のために4,030の行方不明者マーカーが設置されています。

ドキュメンタリー映画「Coming Home」の制作を支援した団体や個人は誰ですか？

制作を支援した団体には、Jeju特別自治道、4.3平和記念館、4.3平和財団、Jeju地方裁判所、ARTE MUSEUMなどがあります。また、映画にはJitae Yuによるナレーション、Myeongju Kimによる脚本、Hogeun Yangによる監督が行われています。

Outlines

00:00

👋 出会いと再会

この段落では、映画「Coming Home」の登場人物であるHanjin Leeとその家族の物語が語られます。Hanjinは、ジェジュ島の4.3事件の犠牲者であり、アメリカに移住してから48年間を過ごしました。彼の兄弟の遺骸が発見され、DNA検査によって彼の兄弟であるHansung Leeであることが確認されます。Hanjinは、再び兄弟に会える喜びと感動を味わうことができます。また、彼の家族はNYのコミュニティで愛されており、彼の店は地域の人々に集まる場所となっています。

05:02

🏆 9/11の功労者

Hanjin Leeは、9/11の際に消防士に水を与えたことで、地域の英雄として知られています。彼はウォールストリートから10分のトンネルの先で燃えた文書が家の前庭に飛び込み、火災部門から感謝のメダルをもらいました。また、彼の孫がオックスフォード大学を卒業した際にも、彼の業績が認められています。Hanjinは、ジェジュ島の4.3事件に関する記事を毎日検索し、記録を残しています。彼の家族は4.3事件の犠牲者であり、彼自身もその経験から逃れようとアメリカに渡米しましたが、ルーツへの忠誠心は変わっていません。

10:08

👶 Eojin-eの思い出

この段落では、Hanjin Leeの家族の思い出と、彼の息子Seung-woo Lee、妻のSeongja Lee、そして孫のIsaacとJennaが語ります。彼らは、家族の愛と絆、およびジェジュ島での幼い思い出を共有します。Hanjinの2人目の兄弟は、中国で学びを終えた後、ジェジュ島に帰ってハングルを教えていました。家族は、4.3事件によって彼らを失った悲しみを共有し、その経験を通じて結びつき、相互に支え合っています。

15:12

✈️ 故郷への帰還

Hanjin Leeは、76年ぶりにジェジュ島に帰省し、家族の悲しみと希望の時間を共有します。ジェジュ特別自治道の知事と4.3犠牲者家族会の会長が、彼の家族の悲しみを慰め、過去の暗闇から解放されるよう願っています。また、4.3平和教育センターで待ち受けている知り合いと再会し、家族の悲しみを共有します。

20:18

🏆 裁判の再審

この段落では、4.3事件の裁判の再審と、その結果について語られます。2,530人の囚人の再審が行われ、彼らは不当に禁固されていたとされています。裁判所は、被告の起訴が犯罪の証拠なしで行われたため、すべての被告を無罪としました。これにより、2021年から2023年の2年間で1,500人以上の釈放が行われ、これは司法の性質から見ると異例の出来事です。

25:45

📚 家族の記録

最後の段落では、Hanjin Leeの家族が、ジェジュ島の4.3事件の真実を知るために集まっています。彼らは、父親の悲しみと苦しみを共有し、現代史の悲劇を伝えるために、その経験を記録し、家族全員に伝えるよう望んでいます。Hanjinは、兄弟の教えてくれた国歌を今でも鮮明に覚えています。また、制作に協力した団体や個人、そして映画のクレジットが紹介されています。

Keywords

💡Jeju April 3rd

「済州4.3事件」とは、1948年に韓国の済州島で発生した大規模な虐殺事件です。この事件は、政府による弾圧と抗争によって多くの市民が犠牲となり、その後長い間闇に包まれていました。ビデオの中心となるトピックであり、犠牲者の家族が過去の真実を追求し、和解を求める努力が描かれています。

💡Genocide

「ジェノサイド」とは、特定の民族や集団を標的にし、人種滅亡を目的とした大規模な殺戮行為を指します。ビデオでは、Jeju April 3rd事件の犠牲者数とその影響を示すとともに、事件がジェノサイドに該当するかどうかについても触れています。

💡DNA Testing

「DNA鑑定」とは、遺伝子情報を使って個人を特定する方法です。ビデオでは、空港から回収された遺体に対してDNA鑑定が行われ、被害者の身元が確認される場面があります。これは、過去の事件の犠牲者やその家族にとって、亡くなった家族の行方を知ることができる大切な手がかりとなります。

💡Immigrants

「移民」とは、自分の国を離れて新しい国に住む人々を指します。ビデオでは、主人公がアメリカに移住し、新しい生活を築いていく過程が描かれています。移民の経験は、主人公が直面した困難や文化的な障壁、そして新しい社会への適応など、多岐にわたるテーマと結びつけられます。

💡Retrial

「再審」とは、既に判決が出ている訴訟について、新たな証拠や理由により再度審理を行うことを指します。ビデオでは、Jeju April 3rd事件の被告人たちが再審を受け、無罪判決を 받る場面があります。これは、正義と真実を求めるプロセスであり、犠牲者家族にとっての大きな意味を持つ出来事です。

💡Closure

「クロージャー」とは、長期にわたる問題や悲しみに対して、結論や解決を見つけることによって得られる心の安らぎを指します。ビデオでは、家族が亡くなった家族の真相を知り、それによって心の安らぎを得ることができる場面があります。これは、犠牲者家族が過去を乗り越え、前向きな将来を迎え入れるための重要なステップです。

💡Human Rights Symposium

「人権シンポジウム」とは、人権に関する議論や講演を行う国際会議です。ビデオでは、主人公が国連本部での人権シンポジウムに参加し、Jeju April 3rd事件の悲劇と真実を共有する場面があります。これは、世界に向けて事件の認識を高め、人権の重要性を訴える重要な場です。

💡Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation

「済州4.3平和財団」とは、Jeju April 3rd事件に関する平和と和解を推進するための組織です。ビデオでは、平和財団が事件の犠牲者や家族の支援や、事件の記憶を守る活動に貢献していることが示されています。平和財団は、過去の悲劇を忘れずに、平和と共生を目指す努力の象徴です。

💡Exile

「亡命」とは、政治的な理由や迫害から自分の国を離れることです。ビデオの主人公は、政治的な理由から韓国を離れ、アメリカに移住しました。亡命者は新しい土地での生活に挑戦し、孤独や文化的な隔たりに直面しながらも、自分の根源を忘れずに生き抜こうとする努力を続けます。

💡Trauma

「トラウマ」とは、深刻な心理的外伤を意味します。ビデオでは、Jeju April 3rd事件によって多くの人々がトラウマを抱え、その影響を受け続けています。犠牲者家族は、過去の悲しみから回復し、そのトラウマを克服する闘いをしていますが、それは容易いことではありません。

💡Memorial

「記念」とは、亡くなった人や重要な出来事を追悼し、記憶に残す行為を指します。ビデオでは、Jeju April 3rd事件の犠牲者を記念する儀式や施設が紹介されており、それによって過去の悲劇を忘れずに、平和と和解の重要性を伝える意味があります。

Highlights

DNA testing confirms the identity of Hansung Lee, a victim of the Jeju April 3rd massacre.

Han Lee, a resident of New York City, is revealed to be the brother of Hansung Lee.

The documentary uncovers the hidden memory of the Jeju April 3rd massacre, a long-forgotten tragedy.

Han Lee shares his life story as an immigrant in NYC and his connection to the tragedy.

Han Lee's family perished in the 4.3 massacre, and he narrowly escaped death himself.

The government-issued Jeju 4.3 Incident Follow-up Investigation Report acknowledges the civilian casualties caused by governmental authority.

Han Lee has dedicated his life to seeking justice and uncovering the truth about the massacre.

The remains of 259 victims, including Hansung Lee, are discovered in a mass grave near Jeju airport.

The documentary investigates the historical context and causes of the Jeju 4.3 massacre.

Han Lee returns to his hometown in Jeju for the first time in 76 years to visit the memorial and burial site.

The emotional homecoming brings Han Lee's family together to remember their lost loved ones.

The film explores the impact of the massacre on the survivors and their families, and their quest for truth and justice.

The Jeju April 3rd Peace Foundation works to uncover the truth, honor the victims, and promote peace and reconciliation.

The film documents the exhumation and identification process of the victims' remains, providing crucial evidence of the atrocities.

The government initiates an ex officio retrial, acknowledging the unjust imprisonment of thousands during the massacre.

The retrial results in the exoneration of over 1,500 victims, providing some measure of justice and closure for their families.

Han Lee's family shares their story and the lessons they've learned, vowing to never forget the tragedy and to keep the victims' memory alive.

Transcripts

[wind]

Chief Producer Inchang Kang / Producer Taehyuk Yang

Cinematographer Hogeun Yang, Jaehong Kim / Music Producer Hyundong Park

Writer Myeongju Kim

Directior Hogeun Yang

Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation

Hello

It’s been a while

Good to see you like this

Are you well?

Yes, I’m very well.

What time is it over there?

8PM.

Jungshim Yang / Investigation and Research Manager, Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation We DNA tested the remains recovered from the airport

confirming him as your brother, Hansung Lee.

The results are out.

The DNA is a match, confirming his identity as Hansung Lee.

You’ve found your brother.

I never thought I’d meet him again in my lifetime...

Thank you so much.

A Documentary film about Jeju April 3rd

Coming Home

New York

He left his hometown and crossed the Pacific ocean.

Narration / Jitae Yu A memory that had been hidden for a long time.

We’re now just uncovering this story.

NYC is a city of immigrants.

The regulars of this small store are evidence of that.

Welcome.

It’s been 48 years since I lived in NYC.

When I first came to the US,

Queens did not have a Koreatown yet.

Where is your hometown?

Hanjin Lee, Family of 4.3 victim / Resident of NY, USA Jeju-si, Hwabuk-dong, Beollang Village.

Also known as ‘Burung’ in Jeju language

Chapter 1: Settling in the US

Hello.

Hello~

This child will always give me a hug.

Not even one day miss?

Merrill / Resident of Brooklyn, New York We love the Lees.

This neighborhood would be nothing without Mr. and Mrs. Lee.

I’ve been coming here since before Oscar was born,

and Oscar is almost 10, he’ll be 10 next week.

So long time.

We love the Lees.

This is where I start my morning.

No one else can come here.

But come in, you are getting a special welcome.

This is because I gave water to the firefighters in 9.11

10 minutes from here by tunnel is Wall Street.

We found burnt documents flying into our front yard

The fire deparment gave me this medal as thanks

When my grandson graduated from Oxford. This is my daughter in law and son.

This is my granddaughter who is going to NYU Law this year.

My son’s daughter. My only granddaughter

These are my daughter’s two sons.

From this small headquarters, everyday he looks up news

from his hometown of Jeju on the 4.3 massacre

I search up 4.3 almost every day

there’s not a day goes by where there are no articles.

We’ll have an article about 4.3 today as well.

These are the materials I’ve printed out

I’ve collected articles from each news outlet

all of them are about 4.3

I have them as records

His passion is so great, he’s mastered even lengthy reports and theses

Hanjin Lee, Family of 4.3 victim / Resident of NY, USA My family perished from 4.3

From Jeju Hwabuk 1-dong 1-ban, only my home was burnt down

and my brothers and mother were all killed.

Which members of your family were killed?

My mother, eldest brother, second brother, and older sister.

What happened on Jeju island nearly 70 years ago?

The ‘Jeju 4.3. Incident Follow-up Investigation Report’ issued by the government states that the 4.3 Incident is a civilian casualty caused by governmental authority.

Mother, sister, and two brothers. The 4 family members of Mr. Lee lost their lives during this time.

Ever since then

I could not, and have not forgotten.

Every day.... I lived thinking back to that time.

After graduating college, Mr. Lee moved to Seoul alone.

To flee guilt by association, he chose to seek the unknown in the U.S.

Now, his time as a permanent fixture in Brooklyn has surpassed his youthful years in Jeju.

I made sure to find it. I’ve kept still the important things I’ve had at the time.

My South Korean passport. My first passport that I made entering the U.S.

When I first came I was very worried. That I might be considered guilty by association.

They called us a commie, and killed all these innocent people.

Now that I’m older, I think they owe m e an explanation.

While Mr. Lee wanted to escape the shackles of his past, he still remains loyal to his roots.

This is from an album found at my grandma’s house.

This is the original copy.

An old, faded photo. It’s his second brother(Hansung Lee).

My second brother completed his studies in China

and returned to Jeju after independence.

He would teach Hangul.

I received a lot of love from my brother

which makes me miss him more.

It’s been a while since this couple left home.

Are you heading to your son’s house?

Yes, it takes about an hour.

Here lies the couple’s real treasure.

It’s from Jeju.

Our treasure.

Our Eojin-e. Eojin-e / A childhood nickname in Jeju, for children to grow wise.

He’s very good

Does it mean ‘Good boy’?

Yes, good boy.

Seung-woo Lee / Hanjin Lee’s son But I’m not sure if it means ‘be wise’ or that I’m ‘already wise’.

Seongja Lee / Hanjin Lee’s wife When I learned that Jenna was a girl,

my happiness was only next to when my son got into medical school.

My eldest grandson Isaac. He goes to med school now.

My daughter-in-law is an angel. I’m the lucky.

We have a great daughter-in-law.

Looks alike.

It’s my younger son.

The jaw and the mouth area is alike, and the nose is a little bit alike.

My second brother made this huge kite for me, and hung it up on a pole.

So that I could play with it.

So two of them had made a kite that was so enormous

that my father had been dragged away.

So he set the string tight around the pole, so they can have it flown

without him getting yanked up.

At the same age.

Is it a high school photo or a college photo?

College.

Happening at 26 years old, he was.

He was so young, but because of 4.3.....

They rounded up my brother and the village youth

and shot them on the beach.

The kids don’t know the details.

Because I didn’t tell them.

They just think their grandmother, their uncles, passed

I didn’t tell them the very details.

Why not?

Because back then we couldn’t speak freely about 4.3.

Jeju people say that all the time.

“Now we can talk about it.”

Mr. Lee first started talking about his family’s story 5 years ago, when partaking in the Human Rights Symposium at the UN Headquarters.

There, renowned scholars and 4.3 families came together to share the tragedy and truth of Jeju 4.3.

Jenna Sangji Lee / Hanjin Lee’s granddaughter When we went to the symposium at the UN,

that was when I started really learning about the event,

and ever since my grandparents

have shared a lot more about it.

And there’s been more materials to read about it.

I don’t think there was a lot of information prior to then,

and sort of we’re learning a lot more about it.

Isaac Sanghyun Lee / Hanjin Lee’s eldest grandson I think he didn’t share a lot of the details about what had happened to him and his family

until we were a lot older.

And as more information was coming out to everyone in the world about this,

I think that’s when he started to speak a lot more about it openly with our family.

They hold a jesa ritual for family members sacrificed during 4.3.

Everyone in the family, including the two children, grandchildren, and the non-Korean daughter- and son-in-law participates.

Allisa Lee / Hanjin Lee’s daughter-in-law It is a big deal, but I think it’s also very important for our family to continue traditions.

I think it’s a beautiful ceremony of respect for both the elders who are here,

and also those who have passed, and remembering the family members

that are no longer with us.

They’re having the funeral in Jeju, right?

Where is he going to be buried?

They have... the 4.3 memorial hall.

Jenna Sangji Lee / Hanjin Lee’s granddaughter We’re quite fortunate to have the means to be able to go.

It feels quite important for our family that we go.

As my father said it’s a bit bittersweet,

but there’s a sense of comfort in having the closure.

[Music]

John F. Kennedy International Airport

His lawyer daughter has taken time out of her busy life to come along.

Caroline Lee (Korean name Seungwon Lee) Hanjin Lee’s daughter My first time, really. I came really for my father.

I know that this is a very important event in my dad’s life

and I wanted to be here to support him, be with him.

Thanks to his children, the trip home has become even more special.

A long, 10+ hour flight.

His hometown of Jeju is approaching.

Jeju

Chapter 2: Genocide

Jeju has been raining for days.

His first time returning to his hometown.

It’s a time of both tension and hope.

Jeju 4.3 Peace Education Center

Some familiar faces are awaiting the family.

The homecoming finally feels real.

Seungwon, it’s been so long.

It’s the people who’ve shared the same sadness.

Younghoon Oh / Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province We hope that you can lay down the sorrows from years of pitch-black darkness

and take permanent rest in your families’ embrace.

We offer deep consolations for each and every member of the families

who have endured years of sadness without knowledge of their loved ones’ life or death.

Changbeom Kim / Chairman of 4.3 Victims’ Families Association Our last news was the witnessing of a villager

who saw trucks with dozens of people heading to the airport.

Since we were able to identify the remains excavated from the Northeastern side of the North-South runway of Jeju

they are presumed to have been massacred there.

Where the plane is taking off now is the East-West runway.

It was built in the 1980s.

Before then, there was the North-South runway.

That was created in the Japanese Occupation period.

Where your brother was buried was northeast of the North-South runway

where there was a large pit.

The blue part on the map is where the pit was.

Mr.Lee’s brother’s remains were found near the runway of Jeju airport

known in the past Jeongtteureu airfield.

All of that in the pit is the remains

We confirmed the remains number, and it was #229.

He was found like this?

Yes, this is the head. He had died with his hands tied behind his back like this.

A semicircular pit with a depth of 1.5 meters.

Just in this pit, a total of 259 remains were recovered.

After 60 years, this harrowing scene of massacre was discovered.

After independence, the Southern region of the Korean peninsula was under U.S. military rule.

Jeju citizens rejected separate elections as they did not want divison of the peninsula.

Feeling threatened, the government forces increased their suppression.

This runway was used by Major General William F. Dean and military police leadership.

Exactly 1 year later, a large-scale massacre took place here.

Geuntae Park / Team Leader of Remains Excavation, Director Ilyeong Cultural Heritage Research Institute The pit was a semicircle with a diameter of about 15m and a width of 7m

bodies were stacked on top of each other in 4, 5 layers.

The remains of #229 did not have any belongings such as buttons

and came out almost naked.

Chansik Park / Head Researcher of Remains Excavation Based on the time of the execution and other circumstances,

we believe that these are the death row inmates of the October 1949 court martial.

Chansik Park / Former 4.3 Research Institute Director, Historian Article 32 and 33 of the National Defense Law at the time were

crime of transfer and crime of espionage.

Academia is of the opinion that these are unofficial ‘ghost law’s.

Therefore, these individuals could be seen as regular civilians,

who had been subject to court martial without legitimate reasons because of the National Defense Law.

They had hid in Halla mountain to flee from

the ‘Scorched Earth’ mission, that started in Winter of 1948,

and from 1949, according to the return of the government forces,

had been executed and secretly buried after being held in the Alcohol production facility and various prisons.

These bodies were thrown in pits, like ‘making salted fish’ according to Jeju sayings.

It took 3 months to recover these folded and stacked bones.

Chapter 3: 76-year Homecoming

Finally, Mr. Lee reunites with his brother.

It’s been 76 years.

When my father was 12, his mother died,

and his brothers were captured and killed...

I wonder what it would have been like for me to lose my family at 12,

and it breaks my heart just thinking about it.

I was very sad.

Very sad. Sad.... mixed with relief and gratitude. Very complicated emotions.

Han Jin Lee, 4.3 Family / Brother of Han Sung Lee, an identified victim I wonder if the reason my brother was identified in our village

was because of this certain incident.

During the 3.1 independence day event of 1947,

he had young students wear white headbands with the Korean flag, and make banners.

Let us destroy the pro-Japanese traitors

We oppose trusteeship

If we eat the western sweets, who will pay the price

That’s the only thing my brother did

but they took them, lined them up on our village beach, and shot them.

All died, except for my brother, who survived because the bullet went through.

My surviving brother, mother, and sister

were all taken by the Northwest Youth Association, and our home was burnt down.

Caroline Lee / Hanjin Lee’s daughter Feeling for my dad. Kind of a proxy.

Kind of... reinforcing that finally

he’s allowed to have those feelings, and to express them, and talk about them. it’s a little overwhelming.

We can only imagine how lonely he must have felt, remembering on his own.

This was where I grew up as a child.

I came back to this land, for the first time in 76 years.

This is my first time coming after 4.3.

I didn’t come before, because I was afraid that other people might think ‘Why is he looking here?’

See over there?

That was where people were massacred.

They were gathered round there

and shot relentlessly. All of them!

Youth were shot, accused of being commies.

The beach became a bloody killing ground.

His brother, who had miraculously survived, became a fugitive.

Oh, it’s changed so much. This was the gristmill.

The Northwest Youth Association captured me and my mother

brought us inside this gristmill

and they would put a gun between my fingers and twist it,

asking me, “You know where your brother is, right?”

They set fire to our home,

and captured my mother and sister and shot them too.

Chapter 4: The extermination of a family

4.3 Peace Park, Memorial Tablet Enshrinement Room

There are a total of 14,000 officially recognized 4.3 victims

The 4.3 Follow-up Investigation Report estimates the casualties to be between 25,000 and 30,000.

Nearly a 10th of Jeju’s population lost their lives.

This is my sister, my mother.

Mother, Soontae Lee (47 years old) / Killed by security forces in December 1948

Sister, Yeonok Lee (17 years old) / Killed by security forces in December 1948

I am of old age now,

but I remember my past so vividly...

I’m sorry.

All bloodied, stabbed with spears...

My sister was still alive

they couldn’t bury her together.

The villagers said that having her drink cold water

would put her to an end so we had her drink water and waited

so that we could temporarily bury her in one pit with my mother.

I wanted to see my mother and sister’s last moments

even as I was too young

but they stopped me because they didn’t know what would happen telling me “If you go out there will be trouble”.

The last moments of my mother and sister I could not see at all.

They didn’t get to share even a last goodbye.

Hanjin is here.

For the first time, with my family and your grandchildren.

Caroline Lee / Hanjin Lee’s daughter I tried to imagine that time. Especially that morning.

My dad as a young boy.

The confusion and the horror of that time,

and to relive that is very sad and horrifying.

It’s human suffering at its worst.

You left a son behind, in an age where he knew nothing...

Jenna Sangji Lee / Hanjin Lee’s granddaughter I think mainly I felt a lot of emotions for my grandfather.

I’ve never seen him cry before.

It’s been a bit overwhelming,

but also I’m really grateful to be able to see all of this.

He’s always sort of, kept that away from my brothers and myself,

I think because he wanted us to be raised without feeling the weight of that tragedy on us.

We grew up very fortunate and very happy lives.

So it was jarring to see them like that.

Hearing the numbers is one thing, but when you see each name listed out,

you feel the weight of how large this tragedy was

My grandfather, he personally had a few names up on that wall,

but you think of how many people living today

has loved ones on that wall

and it makes the scale of it so much more palpable

Missing person markers / 4,030 markers installed for victims whose bodies are unidentified

There are nearly 4000 victims whose bodies have not been found.

The eldest brother, Hanbin Lee, is still nowhere to be found.

My eldest brother used to transport coal in Japan.

He came back from Japan, he could read, he knew Chinese characters,

so they made him work with the Minbodan(Locals for Civilian Protection)

At the time, my brother was told to bring back his fleeing brother

“You know where he is?”

Since he couldn’t capture his own brother,

he stopped working for the Minbodan(Locals for Civilian Protection), and had to hide.

There’s someone he wanted to meet in Jeju.

It’s Mr. Jong Min Kim, who dedicated 36 years to investigating the truth of 4.3 starting with his work at a 4.3 investigation team at a newspaper.

Jongmin Kim / Former journalist of 4.3 investigation team at Jemin Daily, Chairman of Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation

This is my eldest brother.

He was a very educated man...

The police, who were intimidated themselves,

tried to have residents cooperate

so they would have middle-aged or elderly in

police controlled regions to join the Minbodan(Locals for Civilian Protection)

Your eldest brother was hiding at his uncle’s home

because he was afraid of being harmed himself...

How did he end up getting captured?

He wasn’t captured, he turned himself in because they told him to.

Your second older brother as well?

Him too.

There are records of the roster and decisions made for the 4.3 Court martials.

List of Prisoners

The eldest brother, Hanbin Lee, was sentenced to 15 years.

Eldest brother Hanbin Lee (30 years old) / July 1949 Court martial, 15 years in prison, Transported to Daegu Prison, Missing

Second older brother Hansung Lee (26 years old) / June 1949 Court martial, secret burial in Jeongttereu Airfield, Remains recovered

The second older brother, who was sentenced to death, was found in Jeju airport, but the eldest brother was transported to Daegu prison and went missing.

Chapter 5: Retrial

An ex officio retrial of 2,530 prisoners

who were unfairly imprisoned during Jeju 4.3 is set to begin.

The prosecution has claimed an ex official retrial.

This is the first time the government has claimed a retrial by itself.

39th Ex Officio Retrial of Jeju Regional Court, September 26, 2023

It is our decision. The indictment of the defendants

was made without proof of the crime.

Therefore, according to the latter part of Article 325 of the Criminal Prosecution Law,

all defendants are stated, not guilty.

Gun Kang, Senior Judge / Chief Justice of Jeju 4.3 Retrial To acquit over 1500 people

during the two years of 2021 to 2023

is an unprecedented event considering the nature of justice.

When I heard that many were thrilled

and felt that it had “relieved resentment in their heart”

I realized how this carried a significant meaning

and could even turn a new page

in their lives.

Of the nearly 400 remains found across Jeju, 140 have been identified.

The remains laid as #229 has found his real name.

My brother, he studied, and came back to Manchuria,

and taught the villagers the national anthem.

How is that a serious crime?

Mother, sister, and eldest brother are all dead.

You’ve been proven not guilty, please rest easy.

Caroline Lee / Hanjin Lee’s daughter He has had an amazing life.

He made that happen.

Almost an impossibility.

It’s like losing a leg, losing two legs,

growing up.

He never let it be forgotten,

and when this opportunity came up to tell a story,

he did it.

With full force.

Jeju 4.3 Peace Memorial

At first, he just wanted to find his family.

He wasn’t aware of what happened in Jeju 76 years ago,

and how many people perished from it.

I didn’t know that they burnt down 80% of Jeju’s land.

That I did not know.

Thousands upon thousands of people were victimized...

we are but one of those stories.

The sorrows and pain that their father felt was a tragedy of modern history.

Now, they would like to know more.

Because this is a story of ‘us’, that should not be forgotten.

My children are not here with me.

Of course they’re very curious.

And so I wanted to record it for them, share it for them.

This is their story as well.

And also for my dad.

To have a family record of it,

of our experience.

The life of a survivor, who had to leave home and stay silent for many years.

Now they can grasp the truth of Jeju 4.3, that their grandfather could not share.

I would say to him that I’m going to take everything that I’ve seen here and learned here,

and I’m gonna share it with my brothers. And it’s something we won’t forget.

If we have children ourselves we will want to pass this onto them as well,

and they’ll remember their family here.

The people that I’ve met who are still living, our relatives,

and also the people that we’ve lost.

One step at a time, he summons his courage.

A place he couldn’t bear to visit, despite his yearnings.

The evergreen 12 year old boy has now returned to his homeland, 76 years later.

My brother has been acquitted this time.

I hope that everyone, like my brother, will return quickly.

They will return

to their families

I hope so.

Mr. Lee can still vividly remember the national anthem his brother taught him.

Support for Production / Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

Filming Cooperation / Jeju 4.3 Memorial Committee, Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation, Jeju Regional Court, ARTE MUSEUM

Rewatch / jeju.kbs.co.kr, F KBS Jeju Program, YouTube KBS Jeju

Chief Producer Inchang Kang / Producer Taehyuk Yang / Cinematographer Hogeun Yang, Jaehong Kim

Assistant Camera Minseok Kang, Donghwan Roh / Production Truck Seongkwan Kim, Jeonggun Song, Daegun Kang, Seongcheol Kang

Tech Manager Jeongsoo Park / Lighting Seongeun Lee, Jinseon Kim / Ingest System Jaewoong Yang

Color grading Suyeon Bae / NLE Bohoon Kim / CG Sojung Ahn / Graphics Dahyun Moon

Administration Sooan Oh / FD Ahrim Yoo / Music Recording Hyundong Park (Sewoolim Studio)

Thanks to. Johoon Yang, Hojin Kang, Youngkwan Ban, Jieun Song, Eunkyeong Koh, Daekyung Kim, Yoonhee Kang, Jaehyun Kim, Bomi Lee

Narration Jitae Yu / Writer Myeongju Kim / Director Hogeun Yang

Produced by KBS Jeju

“Coming Home” -The end-