Truth and Reconciliation Commission Decides on Truth Verification for Korean War Child Soldiers... "Loss of Educational Opportunities"

Forced conscription despite no military service obligation
Physical harm and loss of academic opportunities
Recommendation for state to take measures to restore honor

A decision has been made to uncover the truth about under-18 child soldiers who were forcibly conscripted despite having no military service obligation during the Korean War.

The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Issues (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) announced on the 10th that at its 82nd meeting, it made a truth-finding decision regarding the "Child Soldier Participation Incident during the Korean War."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that approximately 30,000 child soldiers, including six applicants for truth-finding, were forcibly conscripted or voluntarily enlisted during the Korean War, losing educational opportunities and suffering physical harm. Accordingly, it recommended measures to the state for the substantial restoration of the child soldiers' honor. However, it judged that it is difficult to definitively determine the illegality of the child soldiers' military service.

The Commission stated, "It was an unavoidable situation to overcome the national crisis, and the child soldier system began to be seriously addressed as a legal or human rights issue only in the late 20th century. It is difficult to apply current laws retroactively or to use international norms to judge illegality."

Meanwhile, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission also made truth-finding decisions regarding the forced conscription of university students under authoritarian regimes and the "Second Namjinho Abducted and Returned Fishermen Human Rights Violation Incident."

The Second Namjinho incident involved 19 fishermen who were abducted while fishing in the East Sea in 1980 and were illegally detained by investigative agencies immediately after their return.

In the case of the forced conscription of university students, truth-finding decisions were made for 74 people in November 2022 and October last year, recognizing human rights violations for a total of 362 individuals.