Historical records documenting the Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre, along with materials on South Korea’s postwar reconstruction efforts, have been officially listed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, the Korea Heritage Service said on April 11.

The decision to include the records was made during the 221st session of the UNESCO Executive Board held in Paris around 11 p.m. local time on April 10, the agency said in a statement.

A postcard sent from prison by a victim of the Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre./Korea Heritage Service
The special law aimed at uncovering the truth behind the Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre and restoring the honor of victims and their families was signed into law by President Kim Dae-jung on Jan. 12, 2000, following its passage in the National Assembly. The photo shows the proclamation and the pen used for the signing./Korea Heritage Service

The Jeju records include victim testimonies and documents detailing efforts to uncover the truth and promote reconciliation following the mass killing of civilians on the island between 1948 and 1954. UNESCO recognized the collection for underscoring the global importance of human rights and offering a model for addressing historical trauma through community-based reconciliation.

Yeongil Bay, shown after its restoration between 1973 and 1977./Korea Heritage Service
A poster distributed by the Korea Forest Service in the 1970s to encourage nationwide tree planting./Korea Heritage Service
A special postage stamp issued in 1975 to mark the National Tree-Planting Campaign./Korea Heritage Service

The second entry covers South Korea’s nationwide reforestation campaign following the devastation of the 1950–53 Korean War. The initiative, led by a coordinated effort by civil society and government, has been praised as a reference for developing nations and as an example for addressing global challenges, including climate change and desertification.

With the latest listings, South Korea now has 20 entries on the Memory of the World Register, including the Hunminjeongeum (Korean script), the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty, the Jikji (the world’s oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type), and documents related to the April 19 Revolution.

☞Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre

The Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre refers to a period of political violence on South Korea’s Jeju Island from 1948 to 1954. It began after a protest in 1947 was violently suppressed by police, triggering mass unrest. The conflict escalated into an armed uprising against government forces, who carried out brutal crackdowns. Over the course of seven years, as many as 30,000 civilians—around 10% of Jeju’s population—were killed. The tragedy, once heavily censored, is now seen as a symbol of state violence and a pivotal chapter in Korea’s modern history.