Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cancels First Truth Investigation of 'Baeknakjeong Incident'

The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) has canceled a truth verification decision on its own for the first time.

Kim Kwang-dong, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Photo by Yonhap News

At the meeting held on the 3rd, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission resolved to cancel the truth verification decision and the application regarding the case of the late Baek Rak-jeong, a victim of the 'National Guidance Alliance and Preliminary Arrest Incident in the southern region of Chungnam (Buyeo, Seocheon, Nonsan, Geumsan)'.

At the closed meeting, Chairman Kim Kwang-dong and five members recommended by the ruling party voted in favor. Four members recommended by the opposition party opposed the agenda and all left the meeting.

Mr. Baek, born in 1919, disappeared after going to visit his brother, who had been taken by the police on June 30, 1950, five days after the outbreak of the Korean War. His nephew, Baek Nam-sik, applied for truth verification, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission decided last November that Mr. Baek was a victim of military and police forces and made a truth verification decision.

However, in August this year, while investigating another case, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found a court ruling stating that Mr. Baek was sentenced to death in January 1951 for acts of treason, changing the situation. Accordingly, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission decided to re-investigate the truth verification decision. This is the first time a re-investigation decision has been made by the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Opposition party recommended members have opposed the ruling, stating that the court ruling for Mr. Baek lacks specific reasons for the judgment. The agenda to cancel the truth verification for Mr. Baek was also raised at last month's meeting but was postponed due to opposition from the opposition party members and was re-submitted on this day.