Remembering the April 3 Incident in Jeju Through Art
The National Editorial Cartoonists Association (Chair Choi Min) held a caricature event for citizens on the 29th at 2 p.m. at the Roh Moo-hyun Citizens Center in Seoul. This event was organized as part one of the '2026 April 3 and Friends Concert,' which expands the historical significance of the April 3 Incident in Jeju through cultural and artistic expression.
At the venue, members including Kwon Bum-chul (cartoonist for The Hankyoreh), Kim Sang-min (cartoonist for Kyunghyang Shinmun), Sung Duk-hwan (cartoonist for Kyunghyang Shinmun), Ahn Jong-man (professor of Cartoon and Animation at Sangji University), Lee Dong-su (editorial cartoonist), Lee Hee-won (caricature artist), Jang Bong-gun (former cartoonist for The Hankyoreh), and Ha Jae-uk (illustrator) participated, drawing citizens' faces in their own unique styles while engaging in joyful communication. As the artists drew, they naturally shared stories with citizens about the April 3 Incident in Jeju, and through their pen tips, they shared a meaningful time of comforting historical pain and sharing memories.
Chair Choi Min stated, "Editorial cartoons are a medium that depicts the spirit of the times and shares that memory," and expressed the purpose of the event, saying, "I hope this caricature event becomes an opportunity for citizens to approach this weighty history more familiarly with the heart of 'never saying goodbye to April 3 in Jeju,' and to connect historical memory across generations."
With many citizens participating in the event, the response on-site was enthusiastic. One citizen who received a unique caricature from an artist said, "In an era where AI-generated works are abundant, receiving my own work carefully drawn by a renowned editorial cartoonist is very precious and joyful," and added, "While waiting for my drawing, it was a meaningful weekend in which I deeply reflected on the significance of the April 3 Incident in Jeju."
Beyond the caricature event, the '2026 April 3 and Friends Concert' featured a talk concert with media critic Jung Jun-hee and film director Byun Young-joo, as well as readings by young artists and various citizen-participation programs that shared the contemporary value of the April 3 Incident with citizens.
Baek Kyung-jin, chairman of the Jeju April 3 National Committee, which hosted the event, said, "In a situation where controversies distorting history or undermining the values of democracy continue, we judged that a place to carefully reassess the meaning of April 3 with citizens is necessary," and added, "I hope this event, in which cultural and artistic figures, young artists, and citizens participate together, becomes an opportunity to broaden historical common ground."