JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The South Korean government has apologized to the province of Jeju Island for honoring the late Col. Park Jin-gyeong, who led a deadly repression operation during the early stages of the Jeju Massacre.
Seoul's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs made its apology Wednesday for issuing Park the national merit certificate.
"Although the disposition was carried out in accordance with legal procedures, we extend our sincere apologies to the Jeju 4.3 victims, their families and the people of Jeju," the ministry said in a statement.
Park was commander of the 9th Regiment of the Korean Constabulary on Jeju following the April 3, 1948, uprising, when some 350 armed members of the South Korean Workers' Party Jeju branch attacked 12 police stations.
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