South Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will re-examine the national merit registration of the late Col. Park Jin-kyung, who led the hardline suppression during the Jeju 4·3 Incident.
The ministry said in a press release on the 26th, "Considering the controversy raised over qualifications and procedures following Col. Park's national merit registration, we have decided to comprehensively review relevant laws and registration procedures, and re-examine the matter from scratch to address procedural deficiencies based on legal consultation."
Col. Park assumed command of the 9th Regiment stationed in Jeju in May 1948 and is known to have directed hardline suppression operations against residents. He has been criticized by 4·3 organizations as being responsible for civilian massacres.
Controversy erupted recently when Col. Park's national merit registration became public. President Lee Jae-myung instructed the ministry to consider revoking the registration.
The ministry is conducting a re-examination, finding issues including that the registration was filed by an adopted grandson rather than legally designated bereaved family members.
Under the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of National Merit, only the individual or legally designated bereaved family members—spouse, children, or parents—may apply for national merit status. Applications by other relatives require deliberation by the Veterans Affairs Deliberation Committee. Critics point out that Col. Park's registration bypassed this deliberation process, raising procedural concerns.
Meanwhile, the ministry announced it will conduct a comprehensive investigation of all registered military merit recipients who were registered without committee deliberation and ensure they undergo proper review.
To this end, the ministry will establish a dedicated team within the Veterans Affairs Deliberation Committee to handle deliberations for military merit recipients.