Issued on: 13/03/2026 - FRANCE24
15:02 min
Nearly 80 years ago, a brutal crackdown on Jeju Island in southern Korea claimed tens of thousands of lives. In the aftermath of World War II, the Korean peninsula was drawn into the Cold War and divided in two: a Soviet-backed regime in the North, and a US-supported nationalist government in the South. On Jeju, some residents resisted this division, and the South Korean government soon branded the island a communist stronghold.
The Massacre
In 1948, the South Korean government imposed martial law on Jeju, giving the military sweeping powers. The army quickly began hunting and killing residents, including newborns, accused of being “reds” – communists. Survivors estimate that between 25,000 and 30,000 civilians were killed, nearly 10% of the island’s population. Many sought refuge in volcanic caves and forests to survive.
The repression continued for six years. Martial law was lifted in 1954, ending mass arrests and executions, but survivors lived in fear and silence. Those who spoke out about the massacre risked marginalisation, losing jobs or housing, and were often forced to keep their experiences secret, even from family.
Recognition and Memory
After years of campaigning by victims and researchers, the South Korean government officially recognised the Jeju massacre in the early 2000s and issued a public apology. Many questions remain, including the role of US forces stationed on the peninsula at the time. Last year, more than 14,000 documents related to the Jeju repression were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World register – a symbolic acknowledgment for victims’ families and memory activists, who hope the long-suppressed tragedy will finally be recognised worldwide.
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