The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has made an additional decision to clarify the truth regarding the participation of the Ja-il Hakdo Volunteer Corps in the Korean War.
On the 20th, the TRC announced at its 91st meeting that "an ex officio investigation will be conducted to reexamine the military achievements of the Ja-il Hakdo Volunteer Corps, who voluntarily participated to save the homeland in crisis during the Korean War, in order to inspire patriotism in future generations."
According to the TRC investigation, it was confirmed that right-wing students and youths residing in Japan, including Park Un-wook, president of the Ja-il Hakdo Volunteer Corps Comrades Association, and Park Byung-heon, former head of the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), voluntarily gave up their studies and jobs in Japan to participate in the Korean War.
The Ja-il Hakdo Volunteer Corps was deployed in five waves from the 1st to the 5th. Except for the 5th wave, no military service numbers were assigned, and they were attached to the U.S. military and the Republic of Korea Army. It was confirmed that they served as officers or regular soldiers and made notable contributions in combat.
Those discharged in Korea returned to Japan by February 1952 with the cooperation of relevant authorities, totaling about 260 individuals. However, from April of the same year, with the enforcement of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, the Japanese government refused their return. As a result, about 240 discharged members of the Ja-il Hakdo Volunteer Corps after the armistice agreement in July 1953 could not return to Japan and settled in Korea.
The TRC recommended that, since additional personnel beyond the previously known 642 participants in the Korean War have been identified, relevant agencies should accurately ascertain the facts regarding the number of participants and their activities in accordance with the Past History Clearing Act. It also urged that the spirit of patriotism and homeland defense practiced by the Ja-il Hakdo Volunteer Corps be actively reflected in history textbooks.
Kim Kwang-dong, chairman of the TRC, stated, "The patriotism demonstrated by the Ja-il Hakdo Volunteer Corps is a historical event that should be honored. I believe this investigation provides a meaningful opportunity to shed new light on their participation in the Korean War."
In addition, the commission also announced investigation results concerning civilian casualties related to U.S. forces in the Jeolla region, as well as civilian casualties caused by military and police forces in Incheon, Jangheung, and Haenam in Jeollanam-do.
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