Truth and Reconciliation Commission Investigates 'Family Guilt by Association for Defectors to North Korea' and Other Truths

Truth Investigation into Murder Accusation Cases Including Electric Torture and Pepper Powder Water Torture

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Past Affairs (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) confirmed the facts of the 'Human Rights Violation Case of the Family Punishment System for Defectors to North Korea' and clarified the state's responsibility.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced at the 52nd committee meeting held on the 14th at Namsan Square Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, that it had uncovered the truth about the 'Human Rights Violation Case of the Family Punishment System for Defectors to North Korea' and the 'False Murder Accusation Case Due to Torture and Harsh Treatment by Investigative Agencies.'

The Family Punishment System case refers to the state’s continuous illegal surveillance and monitoring of the families of defectors to North Korea. During the Korean War, when the applicant Lee’s uncle defected to North Korea, the state conducted long-term and intensive surveillance on Lee and Lee’s father. Furthermore, their freedom to choose a profession was infringed upon, including being prohibited from boarding foreign ships. As a result, Lee’s mother even took an extreme step.

Lee’s father applied for truth verification to the 1st Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2006, but the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Later, Lee reapplied, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission secured materials such as the 'Police Identity Investigation Report' from Songra Police Station, Pohang Police Station in 1961, the 'Fact Investigation Report' from Ulleung Police Station, Gyeongbuk Police Agency in 1980, and the 'Seaman’s Handbook' from Pohang Regional Maritime Fisheries Office, thereby verifying the truth.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission stated, "The state was judged to have violated the constitutional rights to privacy and freedom, as well as freedom of occupational choice," and explained, "Applying the family punishment system to defectors’ families was a violation of fundamental rights."

The False Murder Accusation Case Due to Torture and Harsh Treatment by Investigative Agencies refers to the case of the late Choi, who was a member of the Army Military Police in October 1957 and was wrongfully imprisoned. Choi was acquitted in the first trial but was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of injury resulting in death and corpse abandonment in the appeal, high court, and retrial. He was prosecuted based on a false confession by a barwoman who claimed to have witnessed the murder scene, despite having been subjected to torture and harsh treatment by the prosecution and police.

Investigations revealed that the defendant and numerous witnesses consistently testified during trials at various courts that torture and harsh treatment by the prosecution and police had occurred. One of the co-defendants, who was convicted but later acquitted in a retrial, contributed a written account describing the torture and harsh treatment during the investigation process to the media. They endured electric shocks, beatings with clubs, and water torture mixed with red pepper powder from the prosecution and police. Additionally, the barwoman who was convicted of perjury later revealed to the media that she gave false testimony under police coercion.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended, "The state must apologize to the victims who suffered violence for the illegal acts," and urged, "Measures such as retrials should be taken to restore the victims and their families’ damages and honor."

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