Truth and Reconciliation Commission Excavates Korean War Victims' Remains at 7 Sites Nationwide

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Past Affairs (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) will begin excavating the remains of civilian victims of the Korean War at seven locations nationwide.

On the 29th, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced that from this month until May next year, it will start excavation work of the remains of civilian victims of the Korean War at seven locations across the country.

The excavation sites are ▲ Gijwari, Bogae-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province (Anseong National Guidance Alliance Incident) ▲ Galsan-dong, Seosan-si, Chungnam Province (Seosan Collaboration Suspicion Victim Incident) ▲ Gongsu-ri, Baebang-eup, Asan-si, Chungnam Province (Asan Collaboration Suspicion Victim Incident) ▲ Baegam-ri, Yeomchi-eup, Asan-si, Chungnam Province (Asan Collaboration Suspicion Victim Incident) ▲ Hoam-dong, Chungju-si, Chungbuk Province (Chungbuk National Guidance Alliance Incident) ▲ Near Sakpyeong Village, Gwanji-ri, Myeongseok-myeon, Jinju-si, Gyeongnam Province (Jinju National Guidance Alliance Incident) ▲ Yonggye-ri, Gachang-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu (Daegu National Guidance Alliance Incident and October Uprising Victim Incident).

The largest number of victims is about 2,000 in the Seosan Collaboration Suspicion Victim Incident. This incident involved civilians residing in the Seosan area from October 1950 to January 1951 who were killed by police affiliated with the Seosan Police Station and the Navy without due process, on charges of collaborating with the People's Army or being family members of collaborators.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission plans to significantly expand the excavation project starting next year, which marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement. The budget for excavation next year is 3.46 billion KRW, nearly six times the 600 million KRW allocated this year. Newly included are subsidies for excavation by local governments (1.1 billion KRW) and budgets for sample collection and genetic analysis (1.54 billion KRW).

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