TRC Press Release - “Main Truth Revelation Decision Cases of the 102nd Committee” -
March 25th, 2025.
Thanks to Chang Seon Kim for the link.
Download the TRC Press Release “Main Truth Revelation Decision Cases of the 102nd Committee (Human Rights Violation Cases)
Date Created: March 25, 2025” directly from the TRC website here.
Download the TRC Press Release “Main Truth Revelation Decision Cases of the 102nd Committee (Human Rights Violation Cases)
Date Created: March 25, 2025” here.
Please note that TRC’s Press Release on “Human Rights Violations in the Overseas Adoption Process” will be released on March 26th, 2025 (KST).
Once it comes out, the TRC Press Release on “Human Rights Violations in the Overseas Adoption Process” will be shared to a separate page on Paperslip.
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Translation via ChatGPT - some bolding and red highlighting ours.
”Main Truth Revelation Decision Cases of the 102nd Committee (Human Rights Violation Cases)
Date Created: March 25, 2025
Views: 109
Press Release Contact
Department
External Cooperation Officer
Officer: Park Deuk-bae
Release Date: March 25, 2025 (Tuesday)
Contact Number: 02-3393-9720
Press Time: Immediate Release
(04554) 5th-6th Floor, Namsan Square Building, 173 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (02-3393-9700)
<3.15 Incident>
(51727) 2 Odongbuk 11-gil, Masanhappo-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam (055-246-8626)
Media and Public Relations Team Leader: Yang Ji-hoon (02-3393-9726)
Public Relations Specialist: Park Young-il (02-3393-9730)
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Truth Revelation Decision on Human Rights Violations in the Overseas Adoption Process (1)
56 cases among the applications undergo initial truth revelation… Press conference to be held on March 26 (Wednesday) at 10 AM.
Meeting and discussion scheduled with the Norwegian Overseas Adoption Investigation Committee on March 27 (Thursday).
□ On March 25, at the 102nd committee meeting held at the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Jung-gu, Seoul, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Chairperson Park Sun-young) decided to reveal the truth in 20 cases, including the human rights violation case titled ‘Human Rights Violations in the Overseas Adoption Process (1).’
□ The ‘Human Rights Violations in the Overseas Adoption Process’ case involves a total of 367 adoptees sent from Korea to 11 countries overseas between 1964 and 1999, who applied for investigation claiming their ‘right to know their identity’ was violated due to document forgery during the adoption process.
○ At this meeting, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made an initial truth revelation decision regarding 56 applicants, and will detail the findings from the past 2 years and 7 months of investigation at the press conference titled ‘Truth Revelation Decision on Human Rights Violations in the Overseas Adoption Process’ on March 26 (Wednesday) at 10 AM in the Truth and Reconciliation Committee conference room.
□ In this regard, on the morning of March 27 (Thursday), a delegation of four, including Chairperson Ms. Camilla Bernt from the Norwegian Overseas Adoption Investigation Committee, will visit for a meeting with Chairperson Park Sun-young of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to discuss the status of investigations into human rights violations in overseas adoption.
○ The practical meeting will explain the general status of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and share the structural problems of the international adoption system identified through the investigations.
1. The purpose of the Norwegian committee is to investigate the existence of corruption in international adoption activities, the responsibilities and roles of various actors, and to propose and recommend improvements to the national adoption system based on diagnoses and analyses from the mid-20th century to the present.
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At least 1,000 detainees during the March 15 uprising
* Truth-seeking regarding the March 15 uprising's detention and human rights violation incidents… Recommendations for victim restoration and honor recovery.
* Truth-seeking for human rights violation incidents including illegal detention for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act… Recommendations for retrials and more.
In this meeting, the truth was also determined for the "detention and human rights violation incidents related to the March 15 uprising (including Mr. Moon ○○ and 9 others)."
* The investigation confirmed that Mr. Moon and 9 others participated in protests against the fraudulent elections on March 15 and suffered detention and injury by police and public authorities.
* Notably, it is estimated that at least 1,000 students and citizens were arrested and detained by police and public authorities, particularly in the Masan area, during the entire period of the March 15 uprising (March 15, 1960, to April 27, 1960). Among those confirmed in records, at least 320 were identified, with the majority being teenagers to those in their 20s.
* The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended that the state and local governments apologize to victims of human rights violations and their families, take measures for victim restoration and honor recovery, and promote commemorative and educational projects to inform future generations about the spirit and historical significance of the March 15 uprising, as well as the reflection of this in history textbooks and the enactment or amendment of relevant laws and ordinances.
Regarding the "human rights violation incident of illegal detention for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act (Shin ○○, Shin ○○)," it was deemed a serious human rights violation and determined for truth-seeking.
* This case involved two individuals, including Mr. Shin, who was a first-year student at Keimyung University, detained illegally by the Daegu Southern Police Station for distributing leaflets criticizing the military regime, where they suffered harsh treatment and were investigated for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, ultimately receiving a short sentence of 8 months and a long sentence of 10 months.
* The investigation revealed that investigators from the Daegu Southern Police Station obtained a regular arrest warrant rather than an emergency arrest warrant under the Criminal Procedure Act, indicating that the detention and arrest of the applicants were unlawful. It was also determined that there was mistreatment, including beating the applicants and coercing them to confess to criminal acts during the investigation.
* The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended that the state apologize for the unlawful actions of investigative agencies, including illegal detention, beating, and mistreatment, and that appropriate measures be taken to achieve reconciliation. It also emphasized the necessity of taking measures such as retrials according to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act for the recovery of the victims and their families' honor.
Additionally, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission determined truth-seeking for human rights violation incidents, including the "Human Rights Violation Incident of Fishermen's Return of the Haeryong-ho" and the civilian mass sacrifice incidents around the Korean War, including "Civilian Sacrifice Incident by Military and Police in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do (6)."
Attached: A list of cases classified by truth-seeking decisions of the 102nd Committee.
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Truth-Seeking Decisions on Human Rights Violation Cases of the 102nd Committee
1. Human Rights Violation Incident in Overseas Adoption Process (1) → Press Release on March 26 (Wed) (Paperslip Note: Not yet released as of March 25th, 2025 - we will provide update on a separate page).
2. Human Rights Violation Incident of Fishermen Returned from the Haeryong-ho
3. Human Rights Violation Incident including Detention during the March 15 Uprising (Moon ○○ and 9 others)
4. Human Rights Violation Incident including Illegal Detention for Violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act (Shin ○○, Shin ○○)
5. Human Rights Violation Incident including Illegal Detention for Violating the National Security Law (Jin ○○)
6. Human Rights Violation Incident of North Korean Defectors and Fishermen (10) - Manbok-ho, returning from the East Sea from October 31 to November 1, 1968
7. Human Rights Violation Incident of Kim ○○ for Violating Anti-Communism Law
8. Human Rights Violation Incident of the Third Shinjin-ho Fishermen Returned
Clicking on the case titles will lead you to the respective press releases on the website.
Truth-Seeking Decisions on Anti-Japanese Independence Movement and Mass Sacrifice Cases of the 102nd Committee
1. Student Movement of Jeong Mun-taek at Daegu Commercial School
2. Victim Incident by Hostile Forces in Gimpo
3. Civilian Sacrifice Incident by Military and Police in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do (6)
4. National Liberation Federation and Preemptive Arrest Incident in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk (2)
5. Victim Incident of Inmates at Daegu and Gimcheon Prisons (1)
6. Civilian Sacrifice Incident by Military and Police in Pohang, Gyeongbuk
7. National Liberation Federation and Preemptive Arrest Incident in Yangsan, Gyeongnam (3)
8. Civilian Sacrifice Incident by Military and Police in Hadong, Sacheon, and Goseong, Gyeongnam
9. Civilian Sacrifice Incident by Military and Police in Yesan, Chungnam (3)
10. Victim Incident by Hostile Forces in Chungnam Region (Taean, Seosan, Nonsan, Yesan, Buyeo, Gongju)
11. Civilian Sacrifice Incident by Military and Police in Seosan, Chungnam (3)
12. Civilian Sacrifice Incident by National Liberation Federation and Military/Police in Yeongdong, Chungbuk (1)
Clicking on the case titles will lead you to the respective press releases on the website.”