(LEAD) Jeju massacre, post-war reconstruction archives added to UNESCO Memory of the World

All News 10:05 April 11, 2025

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, quotes, background info in paras 4-11; ADDS more photos)

SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) -- Archives documenting the Jeju April 3 uprising and South Korea's post-war reconstruction efforts have been added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, the government said Friday.

According to the Korea Heritage Service, UNESCO approved the inscription during an executive board meeting in Paris on Thursday (local time), following a recommendation from the program's International Advisory Committee.

The addition brings the total number of South Korean entries on the Memory of the World list to 20.

People visit the Peace Park on the southern island of Jeju, in this undated file photo. (Yonhap)

Both collections are regarded as important historical records that capture a chapter of modern Korean history.

The "Revealing Truth: Jeju 4·3 Archives" chronicle the massacre of islanders by government forces between March 1, 1947, and Sept. 21, 1954. The collection includes 14,673 items of court records, news articles, investigation reports, victims' testimonies and photographs.

The Jeju incident began March 1, 1947, when Jeju islanders began protesting against U.S. military-led rule following Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule. The then government distorted the uprising as a communist riot and massacred up to an estimated 30,000 civilians in armed crackdowns over the subsequent years. It is called the "April 3 uprising" because the day in 1948 marked the beginning of large-scale violence and state-led suppression.

A postcard from an inmate is seen in this photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

During Thursday's meeting, the UNESCO's executive board recognized the historical value, authenticity and universal significance of the Jeju April 3 archives.

This file image, provided by the Korea Heritage Service, shows the signed document and fountain pen used by former President Kim Dae-jung to promulgate a special law on uncovering the truth of the Jeju April 3 uprising and restoring the honor of its victims. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Jeju Governor Oh Young-hun welcomed the designation, calling it "a deeply meaningful moment" in which the island's painful history and the journey of its people toward healing and unity have become part of the world's heritage.

"With this inscription, we aim to share with the world the values of peace, human rights, reconciliation and coexistence that are at the heart of Jeju 4·3," Oh said in a statement.

These file photos, provided by the Korea Heritage Service on Aug. 9, 2023, show South Korea's post-war rebuilding efforts from 1973-77. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The post-war "Forest Rehabilitation Records" document nationwide recovery efforts following the 1950-53 Korean War. The collection includes about 9,600 items -- such as public records, photos, promotional materials and postage stamps -- that illustrate both government and civilian reforestation initiatives.

The archives "serve as an exemplary model for developing countries around the world and a valuable reference for global response to the climate change and desertification," a Korea Heritage Service official said.