Truth and Reconciliation Commission Clarifies Truth Behind 49 Civilian Deaths in Haenam, Jeonnam Caused by Military and Police

Residents of Jeonnam Region Sacrificed by Hostile Forces
Truth Investigation into Civilian Sacrifices in Gyeongbuk Gimcheon and Yeongdeok

The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) decided to investigate the truth regarding 49 civilians who were victims of military and police forces in Haenam, Jeollanam-do, and recommended that the state and local governments apologize to the victims.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 30th, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission confirmed that 49 residents of Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, were either killed or injured by the police. This incident occurred from April 1949 to March 1951, after the outbreak of the Korean War, where 49 residents of Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, were killed or injured by the police on suspicion of collaboration.

This is the second time the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has decided to investigate the truth regarding civilians who were victims of military and police forces in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, following the decision on November 29 last year concerning 13 residents of Songji-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do.

According to the investigation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a total of 49 people suffered damages: 11 residents of Gyegok-myeon, 10 residents of Hyeonsan-myeon, 10 residents of Bukpyeong-myeon, 5 residents of Songji-myeon, 6 residents of Okcheon-myeon, 3 residents of Masan-myeon, 2 residents of Hwasan-myeon, and 2 residents of Bukil-myeon in Haenam-gun. Among them, 48 were killed and 1 was injured.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended that the state and local governments issue official apologies to the victims and their families, take measures to restore damages, support memorial projects, and correct public records such as family relation registries.

Additionally, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission decided to investigate the truth regarding incidents in 1950 where 26 residents in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, and 134 residents in Sinan, Jeollanam-do, were killed by hostile forces. These victims were police officers, public officials, soldiers, teachers or their families, or were targeted due to economic wealth by local leftist groups. The Commission recommended urging an apology from the North Korean regime and supporting memorial projects by the state and local governments.

Furthermore, the Commission decided to investigate the truth regarding the incident in 1950 where 15 residents of Gimcheon-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, were preemptively detained and killed by the police, military police, and Counterintelligence Corps (CIC) on the grounds of being members of the National Guidance Alliance or persons under surveillance, as well as the incident from 1949 until the outbreak of the Korean War where 20 residents of Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, were killed by military and police forces.

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