Jeju: President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday pledged to hold accountable those responsible for state violence and eliminate the statutes of limitations for criminal and civil cases related to the 1948 civilian massacre on Jeju Island. This promise was made as he honored the victims ahead of the massacre's anniversary this week. According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee made this commitment during a luncheon with families of the Jeju April 3 massacre victims on the southern island. The massacre was a brutal crackdown on Jeju islanders who opposed the U.S. military-led rule after Japan's occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. The government at that time misrepresented the uprising as a communist riot, leading to the massacre of an estimated 14,000-30,000 civilians, which accounted for up to 10 percent of the island's population. The crackdown began in 1947 and spanned over seven years. Lee emphasized that the government would ensure the removal of statutes of limitations for cases involving state violence, making sure perpetrators are held accountable indefinitely. He also stated that descendants of perpetrators would bear responsibility if they inherit related property. Lee conveyed the government's intention to reintroduce the necessary legislation promptly, vowing to punish those responsible for state violence akin to "Nazi war criminals." The president asserted, "I believe it is my duty as president to ensure that the state never uses its power to commit violence against its own people, as it should exist to protect their lives and safety." Lee's Democratic Party had previously attempted to legislate the removal of statutes of limitations for the Jeju massacre during the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration. However, the bill was blocked when then acting President Choi Sang-mok vetoed it following Yoon's impeachment. Before meeting with the families, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung visited the Jeju April 3 Peace Park to pay their respects to the victims.
