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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Accountability for Brutality is Key, Says President Lee After Film Screening

From Hankyoreh · (4h ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • South Korean President Lee Jae-myung attended a screening of the film 'My Name,' which explores the aftermath of the Jeju April 3 Incident.
  • Lee commented on the extreme brutality and cruelty depicted, linking such violence to political forces that shield or manipulate people in the name of power.
  • He stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, regardless of time passed, and suggested ending the statute of limitations for such crimes, drawing a parallel with Germany's prosecution of Nazi criminals.

Hankyoreh reports on President Lee Jae-myung's engagement with the film 'My Name,' which delves into the historical trauma of the Jeju April 3 Incident. Lee's reaction, described as deeply moved by the depicted brutality, underscores the enduring significance of this dark chapter in Korean history. His remarks, emphasizing the need for accountability and the elimination of statutes of limitations for state violence, resonate with a broader Korean societal reckoning with past injustices.

How violent humans can be — how cruel! What could be the cause?

— Lee Jae-myungPresident Lee expresses his shock and contemplation on the nature of human violence after watching the film.

The President's comparison of state-sponsored violence to the actions of Nazi criminals and his admiration for Germany's commitment to prosecuting war crimes highlight a desire for Korea to establish a similar framework for historical justice. This perspective, as presented by Hankyoreh, suggests a national aspiration to confront historical wrongs decisively and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.

The incident appears to have involved extreme brutality.

— Lee Jae-myungLee describes the Jeju April 3 Incident as depicted in the film, highlighting its extreme violence.

From a Korean viewpoint, the Jeju April 3 Incident remains a sensitive and critical historical event. President Lee's public engagement with a film on the subject, and his strong statements on accountability, signal a political will to address these historical wounds. Hankyoreh frames this as a crucial step towards national reconciliation and a more just future, emphasizing that true progress requires acknowledging and rectifying past state violence, a sentiment that carries significant weight within South Korea's ongoing historical and political discourse.

Wherever there is brutality, wherever there are massacres, there are always political forces behind them. These actions are made possible when people are shielded or manipulated in the name of power.

— Lee Jae-myungLee connects violence and massacres to political manipulation and the abuse of power.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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