Truth and Reconciliation Commission Investigates Civilian Massacre Cases Before and After the Korean War

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has decided to investigate the truth regarding civilian mass casualty incidents before and after the Korean War.

On the 6th, at the 90th committee meeting, the TRC announced that it had decided to investigate the truth of 10 casualty incidents caused by military police and hostile forces in the Gyeonggi, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Chungbuk, and Chungnam regions.

The "Casualty Incident Caused by Hostile Forces in the Gyeonggi Region" refers to incidents where residents living in the Gyeonggi region between July and October 1950 were taken away and subsequently killed or went missing due to reasons such as being Christians, government officials, non-cooperation with the People's Army, or forced conscription into the militia by the People's Army, internal security officers, and local leftists?hostile forces.

The TRC investigated 17 reported cases using the list of victims killed during the June 25 Incident, the list of abductees, displaced persons reports filed with the Korean Red Cross, family register extracts, and other documents. As a result, it was confirmed that 17 victims in areas such as Bucheon, Suwon, and Yangju in Gyeonggi were killed by hostile forces because they were right-wing figures such as government officials or Christians, or their family members. Among the total victims, 15 were male, making up the majority, and by age group, those in their 30s were the largest with 7 victims. It was also revealed that there were victims under the age of 10.

The TRC recommended that the state urge an apology from the North Korean regime, issue an official apology to the victims and their families, implement follow-up measures such as support for damage recovery and memorial projects, correct public records such as family relation registries, and conduct peace and human rights education. In addition, the commission assessed victims and announced investigation results regarding civilian casualties caused by military police in the National Guidance Alliance and preliminary arrests incidents in Haenam and Jindo, Jeonnam, as well as in Geochang, Gyeongnam, and Goesan and Cheongwon, Chungbuk.