Lee reaffirms commitment to removing statutes of limitations of state violence

▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a town hall meeting with residents of the southern resort island of Jeju on March 30, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Lee-state violence

Lee reaffirms commitment to removing statutes of limitations of state violence

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, March 30 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Monday the government will push to remove the statutes of limitations for criminal and civil cases involving those who commit state violence, as he honored victims of a 1948 civilian massacre on Jeju Island.

Lee reiterated the government's move to legislate on the removal of the statutes of limitations on state violence during a town hall meeting on the southern resort island, a day after meeting with bereaved families of the victims ahead of the commemorative anniversary later this week.

The Jeju April 3 massacre was a brutal government crackdown on residents who rose up against U.S. military-led rule following Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.

"I have attended the Jeju April 3 commemorations almost every year and made this promise each time, but I have yet to fulfill it," he said. "I will turn that promise into reality at the earliest possible date."

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) pushed for legislation to remove the statutes of limitations during the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government when it was the main opposition party. But the bill was blocked after then acting President Choi Sang-mok exercised his veto power when Yoon was impeached over his failed martial law bid in 2024.

Lee noted that the bill had passed the National Assembly when he was the DP leader but was ultimately scrapped due to the veto. He expressed optimism that the legislation could now be enacted, with the DP holding a majority in the Assembly and him now serving as president.

"Those responsible must be held accountable until the end of their lives -- tracked down, investigated and punished like Nazi war criminals," Lee said. "Public officials should be made to feel a sense of fear toward history, the people and the state."

The authorities at the time characterized the uprising as a communist rebellion and killed an estimated 14,000 to 30,000 civilians -- up to 10 percent of the island's population. The violence began in 1947 and continued for more than seven years.

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