Seoul, Oct 19 – President Lee Jae Myung reached out to South Koreans with a heartfelt Facebook post today, marking the 77th anniversary of the Yeosu‑Suncheon crackdown. In his message, Lee pledged to bring truth and justice to the civilians who died when soldiers rose up against the new government in 1948.
“I will take full responsibility as president,” Lee said. “I promise to take every possible step to make sure that innocent people never suffer state violence again.” He also pledged government action to uncover the full story and restore the honour of up to 11,000 victims, according to Yonhap.
The Yeosu‑Suncheon incident began on this day in 1948. About 2,000 left‑leaning soldiers refused orders to move to Jeju Island, sparking a rebellion that drew in civilians from Yeosu and nearby Suncheon. The government’s heavy‑handed crackdown killed thousands of civilians, leaving a dark scar on South Korea’s early years.
In 2021, lawmakers passed a special bill to investigate the crackdown and honour the victims. Lee said, “Setting history right and establishing justice is work that must be done no matter how long it will take.”
Across the country, the national conversation is moving toward healing. Seoul’s top envoy to Tokyo, Lee Hyuk, confirmed that South Korea plans a memorial ceremony next month to honour Koreans forced to work at a Japanese mine during colonial rule.
Families and citizens welcome President Lee’s words, hoping for transparency and a lasting apology that acknowledges the suffering endured during those tense early days of the Republic.
Source: ianslive
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