Truth and Reconciliation Commission Conducts Third Truth Investigation on Hyeongjebokjiwon... 153 Additional Victims Identified

The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Past Affairs (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) made a third truth verification decision regarding the Busan Hyeongjebokjiwon incident and identified 153 additional victims.

Former exterior view of Hyeongjebokjiwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held its 70th plenary meeting and announced that it had made truth verification decisions on a total of three human rights violation cases, including the 'Hyeongjebokjiwon human rights violation case,' and four mass victimization cases.

According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's investigation, among the cases confirmed this time was a victim who was forcibly confined at Hyeongjebokjiwon and was selected as a headquarters staff member, responsible for creating personal record cards for newly admitted detainees.

The victim, the late Im Mo, published an autobiography in 1994 based on his experiences at Hyeongjebokjiwon. In the autobiography, Im stated, "I was forcibly confined at Hyeongjebokjiwon through the police station for minor offenses," and "Until I escaped from Hyeongjebokjiwon, I went around city police stations handling the reception of detainees." The Truth and Reconciliation Commission evaluated that the autobiography contains detailed accounts of life inside Hyeongjebokjiwon, making it highly valuable for investigation purposes.

Hyeongjebokjiwon was a case from 1960 to 1992 in which public authorities such as the police committed various human rights violations against vagrants, including forced labor, harsh treatment, and sexual violence.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission previously confirmed through the first and second investigations that in 1977, the Central Intelligence Agency initiated an internal investigation into Hyeongjebokjiwon but concluded the case within two months, and that documents from the investigation defended Hyeongjebokjiwon's operations. Additionally, by analyzing the 'Summary Trial Casebook' preserved at police stations under the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, the commission confirmed cases where crackdowns detained individuals who committed minor offenses indefinitely at Hyeongjebokjiwon without following due legal procedures.

Through two rounds of investigations, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission further revealed ▲the unconstitutionality and illegality of vagrant crackdown regulations ▲serious human rights violations during the operation of Hyeongjebokjiwon ▲medical issues and suspicions regarding the handling of deceased persons. Among all subjects of truth verification, 337 victims have been identified.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission also confirmed serious human rights violations such as assault and forced confinement at the 'Seoul Dongbu Women's Technical Institute,' established in 1968 as a facility for women involved in prostitution and vagrants. The number of victims confirmed through truth verification is 11.

In addition, truth verification has been completed for five other cases, including the 'Deokjeokdo Fisherman Couple Illegal Detention Case' and the 'Bang Dong-gyu Emergency Measure Violation Illegal Detention Case.'

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