Jinhwawi, Truth Investigation into Human Rights Violations at Seoul Hope Boys' Detention Center

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has decided to investigate the human rights violation case at Seoul Hope Juvenile Detention Center.

The Hope Boys' Home in Seoul during the 1950s. [Photo by Truth and Reconciliation Commission]

On the 26th, the TRC announced at its 87th meeting held at the Jung-gu office in Seoul that it had decided to investigate the human rights violation case at Seoul Hope Juvenile Detention Center. This case involves the truth-seeking subjects, Mr. Jeong and Mr. Kim, who were children in the mid-1950s and were forcibly confined at Seoul Hope Juvenile Detention Center by unlawful public authority, where they suffered forced labor, assault, and injury.

The TRC confirmed that although Seoul Hope Juvenile Detention Center is a welfare facility that should receive budget support and supervision from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, detainees like the truth-seeking subjects were exposed to a violent environment, resulting in physical and mental disabilities and indefinite illegal confinement. Furthermore, this was judged to have violated constitutional rights such as the pursuit of happiness, bodily freedom, and freedom of residence and movement.

The TRC recommended that the state apologize for this and take appropriate measures to restore the victims.

Meanwhile, the TRC also decided to investigate the 'Human Rights Violation Case of Illegal Detention by the Jeju Security Unit.' This case involves three individuals who were targeted for investigation in July 1984 because of their acquaintance or contact with suspects in a spy case under investigation by the Jeju Security Unit. They were taken without a warrant and subjected to harsh treatment during illegal detention.

The TRC recommended that the state apologize to the victims for serious human rights violations caused by unlawful public authority, including illegal detention and harsh treatment, and take appropriate measures to restore the victims' honor.

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