“Condemning Conference on the Designation of Park Jin-kyeong as a National Meritorious Person for Leading the Stern Repression in the Jeju 4·3 Incident – December 12, 2025”
The Ministry of National Defense is reviewing the cancellation of the military decoration awarded to the late Colonel Park Jin-kyeong, who has been criticized for allegedly leading a harsh suppression during the Jeju 4·3 incident.
The ministry stated, “There are no existing records of the merits at the time of the 1950 award, making verification difficult,” and added, “We will consider possible actions by comprehensively reviewing related laws and the results of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”
Colonel Park Jin-kyeong was the commander of the 9th Regiment stationed in Jeju in May 1948 and led a hardline suppression operation. He was assassinated by his subordinates about a month later, and was posthumously awarded the Eulji Order of Military Merit in 1950.
The family of Colonel Park applied for the designation of national merit based on the Eulji Order of Military Merit last October and received approval from the Seoul Veterans Affairs Office. However, President Lee Jae-myung has instructed the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to review the cancellation of the national merit registration.