美国国家公共电台 NPR--Survivors of a massacre in South Korea are still seeking an apology from the U.S.

Survivors¹ of a massacre² in South Korea are still seeking an apology from the U.S.

Transcript³

More than 70 years ago a rebellion broke out in South Korea, which at the time was under American military rule. Tens of thousands were killed in the subsequent crackdown, now survivors seek answers.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

More than seven decades ago, a rebellion broke out in South Korea while it was under U.S. military rule. South Korean authorities eventually stopped the violence, but it took nearly six years and cost some 30,000 lives, according to official estimates. To this day, unresolved trauma⁴ remains⁵. As NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Jeju Island, survivors of the massacre are still seeking an apology from the U.S.

ANTHONY KUHN, BYLINE⁶: Throngs⁷ of tourists arrive at Jeju Island's airport. Pictures evoke⁸ the island's reputation as South Korea's Hawaii, with beach resorts, volcanic⁹ peaks and orange trees. Few visitors are aware of the grisly discovery investigators¹⁰ made near the airport's runways. A museum on the island details how between 2007 and 2009, investigators dug up nearly 400 sets of human remains. Yang Jo-hoon is the former chairperson of the nonprofit Jeju 4/3 Peace Foundation. The massacre is known in South Korea by that date. He says soldiers and police executed insurgents¹¹ and suspected communist sympathizers and buried them at the airport. He says discussion of the massacre was taboo¹² under military rule, which ended in 1988. The search for remains did not begin until 2006.

YANG JO-HOON: (Through interpreter) For 60 years, so many bodies lay next to the runway where planes take off and land every day. But we lived our lives as if they didn't exist. Thankfully, we were able to recover them when a democratic administration came in.

KUHN: After defeating Japan in World War II, the U.S. ended Japan's 35-year-long colonial occupation of Korea. But two years later, Jeju Islanders rebelled against the U.S.'s division of their country into North and South. They boycotted¹³ elections held only in the South, and they objected to authorities employing Koreans who had collaborated¹⁴ with Japanese occupiers. On April 3, 1948, rebels attacked police stations, triggering a harsh crackdown.

Yang Jo-hoon explains.

YANG: (Through interpreter) The U.S. justified¹⁵ the crackdown by connecting rebels to Soviet¹⁶ forces, which wasn't true.

KUHN: The violence came to Bukchon Village in 1949. Resident Ko Wan-soon was 9 years old at the time. After rebels killed two soldiers, Ko and other villagers were rounded up in a schoolyard. Ko remembers standing¹⁷ up to get a better look.

KO WAN-SOON: (Through interpreter) I was hit on the shoulder blade with a club, and I collapsed¹⁸ on the ground. I still can't raise this arm up high. A soldier yelled out something, and suddenly there was gunfire, and men's heads disappeared. As if on signal, machine guns started firing, too. (Imitates gunfire).

KUHN: She estimates that dozens of her extended family members were killed, including her 3-year-old brother, who was clubbed to death. Ko illustrates¹⁹ her memories of the events in drawings, which she shows to visitors.

KO: (Through interpreter) I've never received any personal apology. I've been bound by a system of guilt²⁰ by association with the rebels and couldn't do what I wanted to do in my life.

KUHN: Ko has visited the United Nations and called on the U.S. to apologize.

KO: (Through interpreter) I don't need any money after all this time. The massacre happened when I was 9. I'm 83 now. What I need is a truthful²¹ human apology, a willingness to come and hold my hands.

KUHN: Victims, historians and journalists haven't found any evidence in U.S. archives that the U.S. explicitly²² ordered any of the killings²³ on Jeju Island, or Jeju-do in Korean. But they believe U.S. military advisers²⁴ on the island knew what was going on.

John Merrill is a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins University and former State Department official.

JOHN MERRILL: The objective was to pacify²⁵ Jeju-do, and we gave the orders in those days. On the whole, people didn't care very much how that pacification²⁶ was done.

KUHN: A South Korean government survey found that police, soldiers and right-wing paramilitary groups killed 84% of the victims. Insurgents killed the rest. Part of the historical significance of the Jeju uprising, Merrill argues, is that it illustrates the underlying²⁷ causes that led to the Korean War. The three-year conflict killed nearly 5 million people, and the Korean Peninsula remains a regional flashpoint.

MERRILL: Very few people considered the runup to the war and how it might affect the current situation.

KUHN: Many people are only aware of the immediate²⁸ cause of the war, the North's invasion of the South in June of 1950. What they miss, Merrill argues, is that Jeju was one of many local conflicts between the political left and right within South Korea that escalated²⁹ into war between two rival Koreas.

MERRILL: These were links in a chain of domestic political violence that led right up to the outbreak of the war itself.

KUHN: Kang Choon-hee is the vice³⁰ head of an association of massacre survivors and their families. She says her father was detained and never heard from again. Her mother was beaten. And her baby brother, who was breastfeeding, was injured and later died.

KANG CHOON-HEE: (Through interpreter) Our entire village was burned down. But not just for my village's sake, but for the entire Jeju Island, the U.S. military should be held accountable and pay compensation.

KUHN: The victims and their supporters plan to hold a symposium³¹ in the U.S. to raise awareness³² of their cause, but they've had to postpone³³ it due to the pandemic. While they may face an uphill battle for recognition in the U.S., Yang Jo-hoon says they've been making steady progress at home.

YANG: (Through interpreter) Although April 3 is a huge tragedy, the people of Jeju have overcome it and started a movement for forgiveness and reconciliation³⁴. I'm very proud of this.

KUHN: In 2000, a law was passed mandating³⁵ an independent investigation³⁶ into the uprising. Three years later, then-President Roh Moo-hyun apologized for the crackdown. Yang spoke³⁷ while showing visitors around a vast peace park with monuments to the dead and missing. He takes us into an underground room containing a slab³⁸ of black volcanic rock. A beam of light shines down on it from a skylight above.

YANG: (Through interpreter) Controversies³⁹ about what April 3 was are still ongoing⁴⁰. This blank memorial lies here because there is no public consensus⁴¹ on the right name for the incident. We hope that this monument will be erected⁴² soon.

KUHN: It's variously described as an uprising, armed protest or just an event. The symbolism of the blank monument is that the incident remains buried without a name, but the task of naming has become easier as the light of truth-seeking and reconciliation now shines down on it.

Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Jeju Island.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

1 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

2 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

7 throngs   

n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群，挤满( throng的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She muscled through the throngs of people, frantically searching for David. 她使劲挤过人群，拼命寻找戴维。 来自辞典例句
• Our friends threaded their way slowly through the throngs upon the Bridge. 我们这两位朋友在桥上从人群中穿过，慢慢地往前走。 来自辞典例句

8 evoke   

vt.唤起，引起，使人想起

参考例句：

• These images are likely to evoke a strong response in the viewer.这些图像可能会在观众中产生强烈反响。
• Her only resource was the sympathy she could evoke.她以凭借的唯一力量就是她能从人们心底里激起的同情。

9 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

10 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

12 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？

13 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

14 collaborated   

合作( collaborate的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾结叛国

参考例句：

• We have collaborated on many projects over the years. 这些年来我们合作搞了许多项目。
• We have collaborated closely with the university on this project. 我们与大学在这个专案上紧密合作。

15 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

16 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

17 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

18 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

19 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

20 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

21 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。

22 explicitly   

ad.明确地，显然地

参考例句：

• The plan does not explicitly endorse the private ownership of land. 该计划没有明确地支持土地私有制。
• SARA amended section 113 to provide explicitly for a right to contribution. 《最高基金修正与再授权法案》修正了第123条，清楚地规定了分配权。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

23 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

24 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

25 pacify   

vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰

参考例句：

• He tried to pacify the protesters with promises of reform.他试图以改革的承诺安抚抗议者。
• He tried to pacify his creditors by repaying part of the money.他为安抚债权人偿还了部分借款。

26 pacification   

n. 讲和，绥靖，平定

参考例句：

• Real pacification is hard to get in the Vietnamese countryside. 在越南的乡下真正的安宁是很难实现的。
• Real pacification is hard to get in the Vietnamese countryside(McGeorge Bundy) 在越南的乡下真正的安宁是很难实现的（麦乔治·邦迪）

27 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

28 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

29 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

30 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

31 symposium   

n.讨论会，专题报告会；专题论文集

参考例句：

• What have you learned from the symposium?你参加了这次科学讨论会有什么体会？
• The specialists and scholars present at the symposium come from all corners of the country.出席研讨会的专家学者们来自全国各地。

32 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

33 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

34 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

35 mandating   

托管（mandate的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Current requirements mandating that committees keep minutes are too general. 目前对委员会要保持详细记录的指令性要求，还是太过一般化了。
• Mandating that workers who quit without permission forfeit a month's wages. 规定工人私自离岗将受到罚没一个月工资的处罚。

36 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

37 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

38 slab   

n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上

参考例句：

• This heavy slab of oak now stood between the bomb and Hitler.这时笨重的橡木厚板就横在炸弹和希特勒之间了。
• The monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab.这座纪念碑由两根垂直的柱体构成，它们共同支撑着一块平板。

39 controversies   

争论

参考例句：

• We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议，我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句

40 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

41 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

42 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。