Jeju 4·3 Incident, Forest Restoration Records Likely to Be Listed as 'UNESCO Memory of the World'

연합뉴스 / 2025-03-19 16:46:32

▲ This Yonhap file photo shows Jeju 4·3 Peace Park. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- Records documenting the Jeju 4·3 Incident and South Korea’s post-war forest restoration efforts are expected to be inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

According to UNESCO on Wednesday, the International Advisory Committee (IAC) for the Memory of the World Program recently recommended the inscription of Jeju 4·3 Incident Records and Forest Restoration Records. The final decision will be made at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting in April.

The Jeju 4·3 Incident Records chronicle a significant chapter in modern Korean history. Spanning from March 1, 1947, to September 21, 1954, the records document the armed conflicts and government crackdowns that led to the deaths of numerous civilians on Jeju Island. The collection includes government documents, court records, media reports, victim testimonies, investigative reports, and photographs capturing both the atrocities and reconciliation efforts.

▲ This photograph, provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), shows Jeju island villagers taken by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1948. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The Forest Restoration Records highlight South Korea’s successful reforestation campaign following the devastation of the Korean War. The archive consists of over 9,600 documents, including government reports, photographs, promotional materials, and postage stamps that showcase the collaborative efforts between the government and civilians to restore the nation’s forests.

If inscribed, South Korea will have a total of 20 Memory of the World listings. Since 1997, the country has successfully registered several records, including Hunminjeongeum Haerye, The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Seungjeongwon Ilgi (The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat), Jikji, and The Uigwe: The Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty.

The UNESCO Memory of the World Program was launched in 1997 to preserve and promote globally significant historical documents, manuscripts, and other archival records. This year, the IAC evaluated 119 nominations and recommended 74 for inscription.

▲ Records documenting the process of restoring the war-torn land into a lush green landscape are being considered for UNESCO Memory of the World inscription. The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) announced that on August 9, 2023, the Korean National Committee for the Memory of the World held a meeting and approved the selection of Forest Restoration Records as a candidate for the next inscription. The photo shows the Yeongil Bay restoration from 1973 to 1977. Photo courtesy of the KHS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)