The Jeju 4·3 records have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Documentary Heritage list.
Jeju Province announced that the 221st UNESCO Executive Board meeting, held at 6:05 a.m. on the 11th (11:05 p.m. local time in France on the 10th), has finalized the approval for the inscription of "Revealing Truth: Jeju 4·3 Archives" as a World Documentary Heritage.
The registration application submitted by Jeju Province and the Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation in November 2023 received recommendations for inscription from the UNESCO Registration Sub-Committee (RSC) and the International Advisory Committee (IAC), based on which the Executive Board made the final decision on the inscription.
Efforts to inscribe the World Documentary Heritage, which began in 2018, have borne fruit after seven years.
The Jeju 4·3 records contain 14,673 historical documents that capture the process of truth clarification and reconciliation. These include a list of detainees from the military tribunal, 27 postcards from prison, 14,601 personal testimonies from victims and their families, 42 records of civil society's efforts for truth investigation, and three official government investigation reports.
The UNESCO Executive Board recognized the historical value, authenticity, and universal significance of the Jeju 4·3 records.
The International Advisory Committee noted of the Jeju 4·3 records, "It sheds light on efforts to reveal the truth against state violence, achieve social reconciliation, and restore the honor of victims," and praised it as "an achievement of the community's democratic practice toward reconciliation and coexistence."
With this inscription, Jeju Province has achieved the record of being a 'UNESCO five-time champion,' adding to its UNESCO biosphere reserve, World Natural Heritage, Global Geopark, and Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon emphasized, "This is a significant moment when the historic journey of the residents of Jeju, who healed the pain of the 4·3 and achieved reconciliation and coexistence, has become a global heritage," adding, "We will share the values of peace, human rights, reconciliation, and coexistence embodied in the 4·3 with the world through this inscription."
He further stated, "We will systematically collect and preserve records related to the 4·3 and use them as living materials for peace and human rights education for future generations," and said, "We will closely cooperate with the government to build an archive that is easily accessible to everyone."
Currently, a special exhibition titled "Jeju 4·3 Archives: Truth and Reconciliation" is being held at the Korean Hall of the Cité Internationale Universitaire in Paris, France, to commemorate the inscription.
Jeju Province plans to hold events to commemorate the inscription and promote various commemorative projects, including related exhibitions and academic events.