Jeju 4.3 International Special Exhibition Opens at Lincoln Center in New York

NYAFF Partnership Brings the History of Jeju 4.3 and the Values of Peace and Human Rights to a Global Audience

NEW YORK — K-Verse | Cindy M. Jang

The Jeju 4.3 International Special Exhibition officially opened on July 12 (local time) at the Frida and Roy Furman Gallery inside Film at Lincoln Center in New York, introducing the historical truth of the Jeju 4.3 Incident and its enduring message of peace, human rights, reconciliation, and healing to an international audience.

Co-hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the Jeju 4.3 Peace Foundation, and the Jeju 4.3 Victims’ Bereaved Families Association, the exhibition runs from July 12 through July 16 in conjunction with the 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).

The exhibition was organized alongside the festival’s official selections, Hanran and My Name Is, both of which are rooted in the historical events of Jeju 4.3. Through historical archives, photographs, and multimedia presentations, the exhibition introduces international visitors to the tragedy of Jeju 4.3 while highlighting Korea’s long journey toward truth, justice, reconciliation, and coexistence.

Public Officials, Community Leaders, and Filmmakers Gather for the Opening

The opening ceremony welcomed approximately 80 guests, including Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, Jeju Vice Governor Park Cheon-soo, Consul General Kim Sang-ho of the Republic of Korea in New York, Lee Myung-seok, President of the New York Korean Association, and Esther Lee, Chairwoman of the Association’s Board of Directors.

Representatives from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, the Korean Cultural Center New York, the New York Korean Association, the Jeju Association of Korean Americans, the Jeju 4.3 Memorial Association and Bereaved Families Association, the New York Chapter of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, members of the media, and local community leaders also attended the ceremony.

The event was further joined by Samuel Jamier, President of the New York Asian Film Festival, festival officials, Hanran director Ha Myung-mi, actress Kim Hyang-gi, My Name Is director Jung Ji-young, artists, and members of the public.

“The Red Camellias of Jeju Have Bloomed at Lincoln Center”

During his congratulatory remarks, Consul General Kim Sang-ho stated,

The red camellias of Jeju have bloomed at Lincoln Center in New York.

He continued,

“With the recent inscription of the Jeju 4.3 archives on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, the truth of Jeju 4.3 and the memories of its victims are now meeting the world.”

Kim added that the history of Jeju 4.3 continues to remind people of the universal importance of peace and human rights and expressed hope that its message would resonate broadly throughout American society.

Governor Oh Young-hoon also emphasized that Jeju 4.3 is not only a chapter of Korean history but a universal story of peace, reconciliation, and human dignity that deserves to be remembered worldwide.

Exploring History Before Watching the Films

Following the opening ceremony, visitors toured the exhibition with guided commentary, learning about the historical background of the Jeju 4.3 Incident, the geopolitical situation on the Korean Peninsula at the time, and the circumstances under the U.S. military government.

The exhibition also documents Korea’s decades-long efforts toward uncovering the truth, restoring the honor of victims, issuing official government apologies, providing compensation, and promoting reconciliation.

Visitors were able to explore the historical context before attending screenings, allowing them to better understand the stories portrayed in the films Hanran and My Name Is. The exhibition and film program together offered a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Jeju 4.3.

Special Screening of Hanran

Following the exhibition opening, the official screening of Hanran took place at Walter Reade Theater inside Film at Lincoln Center.

Another NYAFF official selection, My Name Is, is scheduled to be screened on July 16 at 4:00 p.m. (local time).

Sharing Jeju 4.3’s Universal Values with the World

Vice Governor Park Cheon-soo described the exhibition as “a meaningful opportunity to share the historical truth of Jeju 4.3 and its values of peace and human rights with an international audience through one of the world’s leading cultural festivals.”

He added that Jeju’s experience of overcoming tragedy through truth-finding, restoring victims’ dignity, reconciliation, and coexistence offers an important message to societies around the world facing conflict and division.

During their visit to New York, officials from Jeju also met with representatives of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, the Korean Cultural Center New York, and the New York Korean Association to discuss expanding international awareness of Jeju 4.3 and strengthening future cooperation on peace and human rights initiatives.

As the exhibition continues throughout the New York Asian Film Festival, organizers hope it will foster greater international understanding of Jeju 4.3 and reinforce its universal message of peace, human rights, reconciliation, and remembrance.

Reporting & Photos by Cindy M. Jang | K-Verse