3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission Launches First Investigation...Brothers Home Case to Be Reexamined

6,347 Cases Submitted; New Incidents to Be Investigated

Korean War Civilian Victims and Illegal Detention During Konkuk University Protest Included

The 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission has launched its first investigation since its establishment. The Commission will resume the process of uncovering the truth on 2,111 cases, including incidents involving civilian casualties, which had been suspended following the conclusion of the 2nd Commission's term.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Song Sangkyo, Chair of the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is speaking at the press conference to announce the start of the investigation, held in the main conference room on the 6th floor of the Namsan Square Building in Jung-gu, Seoul. Truth and Reconciliation Commission

On the 21st, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held its 2nd plenary meeting and resolved to begin investigations into 2,111 previously halted cases. These include 2,101 cases in which investigations will commence, and 10 cases that will undergo preliminary review. The largest category involves 1,366 incidents of mass civilian killings, followed by 471 cases of human rights violations, 149 historically significant incidents, and 84 cases in which civilians were victimized by hostile entities.

The list of investigations also includes several high-profile cases. The human rights violations at the Brothers Home facility will be re-examined for systemic abuses, including forced detention, forced labor, beatings, and other forms of mistreatment. Illegal detention related to the October 28, 1986 Konkuk University protest will also be reinvestigated, with new evidence and testimony being sought to expand the scope of truth-finding. Additional cases subject to investigation include the Jindo military and police incident in South Jeolla Province, the Bohdo League incident in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, the espionage fabrication case involving Koreans residing in Japan, the Chilseongwon human rights abuse case, and violations that took place during overseas adoption processes.

Over the next three years, the Commission plans to actively carry out investigations. Relying on the wealth of data and experience it has accumulated, the Commission aims to objectively uncover the facts of each incident and support the restoration of honor and rights for victims and their families.

Chairman Song Sangkyo stated, "The 2,111 cases that the committee is facing again represent someone's life and a family's history. We will listen to the pain that has gone unspoken for decades and to the stories that no one else has heard, until the very end."

Meanwhile, as of the 15th, the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission had received a total of 6,347 applications for truth investigation. New cases will be sequentially investigated, and applications for truth-finding will be accepted until February 25, 2028.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.