The South Korean Ministry of Veterans Affairs has announced that it will revisit the registration of late Colonel Park Jin-kyung (1920-1948) as a national benefactor due to allegations of his involvement in the harsh suppression of civilians during the Jeju April 3 incident in 1948. The ministry stated that public controversy regarding Colonel Park's registration, particularly concerning qualification and procedural issues, prompted this comprehensive review, which includes legal consultations to address potential procedural flaws in the original registration process.

This reassessment comes after a previous decision in October of last year to register Colonel Park as a national benefactor, based on military awards he received during the Korean War era. However, Colonel Park was reportedly involved in operations that led to the capture of over 3,000 civilians in Jeju during the tumultuous events surrounding the April 3 uprising, raising significant ethical and legal questions about his recognition as a national benefactor. The Ministry has acknowledged that under the National Benefactors Act, the registration process should have included a review by the Veterans Review Committee, which did not happen in Colonel Park's case.

To ensure transparency and fairness, the Ministry is also conducting a thorough investigation of all registered military merit awardees who were registered without formal review by the Veterans Review Committee. This move could lead to further scrutiny and potential re-evaluation of similar cases, reflecting a broader effort to uphold accountability and proper procedural standards in the recognition of national benefactors in South Korea.