Contribution to Understanding the Reality of Hyeongjebokjiwon
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will provide compensation to those who have contributed to uncovering the truth about past events.
On the 10th, the TRC announced that at its 79th meeting held on the 28th of last month, it resolved to pay compensation of 7 million KRW to Mr. Im, who provided the autobiography of his father, a former detainee of Hyeongjebokjiwon, and 8 million KRW to Mankyeong Church, which submitted materials related to the case of Christian victims in the Jeonbuk region caused by hostile forces during and after the Korean War.
Mr. Im was recognized for his contribution to understanding the realities of Hyeongjebokjiwon through his father's autobiography, who was forcibly detained there from May 1984 to April of the following year and escaped. The autobiography written by Mr. Im's father contains detailed accounts of life inside Hyeongjebokjiwon and the process of being selected from a general detainee to a headquarters staff member.
Mankyeong Church was acknowledged for its contribution to uncovering the truth about nine victims from the church who were killed by hostile forces during the Korean War by providing copies and interpretations of church records that included the victims' names, ages, places of death, and church positions.
This is the second time the TRC has provided compensation to contributors to truth-finding, following the first round in May of last year. Additional compensation is planned through further reviews in the second half of this year.
Kim Gwangdong, Chairperson of the TRC, stated, "We hope that this compensation payment will encourage more active provision of materials, testimonies, and reports in the future."
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