Jeju April 3 victims and bereaved family members newly recognized at 349; living, air travel and medical support provided

[Financial News, Jeju = Jung Yong-bok] The 349 people newly and officially recognized as victims of the Jeju April 3 Incident or bereaved family members, including 75 victims and 274 relatives, will receive welfare benefits such as living allowances, medical expense support and discounts on air travel, parking and cultural facilities, depending on their status and age.
According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 1st, the province notified the newly recognized victims and bereaved family members of the decision and explained the welfare programs they can use, following the Aug. 24 decision by the Committee for the Investigation of the Truth and Restoration of Honor for Victims of the Jeju April 3rd Incident.
The committee added 75 victims and 274 bereaved family members in its latest decision last month. The victims include 35 people who died, 26 who went missing and 14 who were imprisoned.
With this decision, the number of Jeju April 3 Incident victims officially recognized by the government since 2002 has risen to 15,286, while the number of bereaved family members has reached 128,295. The total comes to 143,581.
Welfare support varies depending on the type of victim or bereaved family member and their age. Jeju Island has been paying living allowances since 2011 to help surviving victims and elderly bereaved family members maintain stable lives. Surviving victims receive 700,000 won a month, spouses of victims receive 300,000 won, and one-generation bereaved family members aged 75 or older receive 100,000 won.
Surviving victims receive full reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical and prescription costs at hospitals and clinics. When they die, their bereaved family members receive 3 million won for funeral expenses, and cremation and burial fees at facilities such as Yangji Park and Eoseungsaeng Hanulluri Park are waived for the first time.
Medical expense support is also available for elderly bereaved family members. Bereaved family members born before Dec. 31, 1954, and daughters-in-law of eligible victims can receive reduced treatment costs at designated medical institutions.
People living outside Jeju can also receive support. Bereaved family members living elsewhere can submit receipts and a copy of their bankbook to the Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation after receiving treatment at a medical institution, and then receive the support payment.
To take advantage of everyday discount benefits, it is convenient to obtain a 4.3 victim or bereaved family member card. Residents in Jeju Island can apply at their local eup, myeon or dong office. Those living outside the island can apply at the eup, myeon or dong office with jurisdiction over the victim's registered domicile, while overseas residents can apply through the Jeju Island 4.3 Support Division. Online applications are also available through the Jeju Island 4.3 integrated information system.
The range of benefits for bereaved family member cards is expanding from transportation to medical, cultural and sports services. Jeju Air domestic flights offer a 50% discount for surviving victims and a 40% discount for bereaved family members. The same discount rates apply during peak season.
At the passenger parking lot of Jeju International Airport, surviving victims receive a 50% discount and bereaved family members receive 20% off, while public parking fees on the island are discounted by 50%. Admission and viewing fees at cultural and tourist facilities operated by Jeju Island are also waived.
In the medical sector, discounted robotic surgery fees for knee replacement at Korea Hospital have been in effect since 2024. The discount is 1.6 million won for one knee and 3.2 million won for both.
Cultural and sports benefits have also been added. Since May last year, Lotte Cinema Jeju Yeondong and Seogwipo have been offering discounted movie tickets to victims and bereaved family members. Admission tickets for Jeju SK FC home games are also discounted by 5,000 won.
Discounts on funeral hall visitation room fees are also available at facilities including Bumin, Hwagwi, S Central Hospital, Seogwipo Medical Center, Hongil, Green and Gimnyeong Nonghyup Funeral Culture Center.
The latest decision to add 349 people is significant because the official recognition process for victims and bereaved family members of the Jeju April 3 Incident is still ongoing. The government plans to accept a ninth round of additional applications from February to July 2027 for victims and bereaved family members who missed the reporting period.
Those newly determined as victims can also apply for separate compensation for Jeju April 3 victims 90 days after the decision date. Welfare support and compensation are separate systems. As benefits expand, Jeju Island is also considering issuing mobile cards to reduce the inconvenience of carrying a physical bereaved family member card.
Byun Young-geun, director of the province's special self-governing administration bureau, said, "We will review the issuance of mobile cards so that bereaved family members can easily use the benefits in daily life, and we will continue to expand the areas eligible for discounts."
[email protected] Jung Yong-bok Reporter