Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recognizes 68 Victims in First Truth Verification of Abduction Cases

Truth Investigation into Civilian Massacre Incidents in Hampyeong and Cheongdo Regions
"Acts of Killing Civilians Without Legal Procedures or Grounds"

Memorial Monument at the National Korean War Abductees Memorial Hall in Paju, Gyeonggi Province
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) has, for the first time, decided to investigate the truth of abduction cases during the Korean War and recognized 68 people as victims of the incidents. It identified the North Korean regime as the party responsible for the abductions and recommended that the government officially demand an apology.

On the 24th, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced that it had made a decision to investigate the truth of the 'wartime abduction cases' at its 45th meeting held on the 22nd. This is the first time the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has decided to investigate abduction cases during the Korean War period.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recognized a total of 68 victims: 25 in Seoul, 18 in Gyeonggi, 6 in Gangwon, 4 in Gyeongsang, 12 in Chungcheong, and 3 in Jeolla. These individuals were abducted against their will and forcibly detained in North Korean territory from June 25, 1950, when the Korean War broke out, until July 27, 1953.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified the North Korean regime as the party responsible for the abductions. It recommended the government to ▲officially demand an apology from the North Korean regime ▲confirm the life status of the abductees and urge the repatriation of surviving abductees ▲consider designating a memorial day to honor the victims.

A memorial park honoring the civilian victims of the Hampyeong Incident, located in Wolya-myeon, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission also investigated civilian massacre cases that occurred in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do, and Cheongdo, Gyeongsangbuk-do during the Korean War. The Hampyeong civilian victim incident involved the military and police killing 11 civilians engaged in agriculture and household work and injuring 2 others. Among the victims were 2 women and 3 children under the age of 10. The Cheongdo Bodo League and preliminary arrest incident victims, totaling 41 civilians, were confirmed to have been killed by the military and police on the grounds that they cooperated with leftists or joined the National Guidance Alliance. These victims were killed around July 1950 by police from the Cheongdo Police Station and the Horim Unit of the Army Intelligence Bureau.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission stated, "The military and police killed unarmed and nonresistant civilians without legal grounds or procedures," and recommended that the state and local governments officially apologize to the bereaved families, support memorial projects, and carry out follow-up projects such as excavation and enshrinement of remains.

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