Decision to Uncover the Truth Behind Civilian Casualties in Hwasun
The 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) recommended legislation for victim relief for incidents in which civilians were sacrificed to 'hostile forces,' including partisans, during the Korean War.
Park Sun-young, Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Committee), listens to the remarks of committee members at the 94th meeting held on the 7th at the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Truth and Reconciliation Committee
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced on the 7th that it held its 94th meeting and made a truth verification decision regarding the 'Hostile Forces Sacrifice Incident in Hwasun, Jeonnam.' This is a truth verification application case concerning four civilians residing in Dongbok-myeon and Iseo-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, who were sacrificed by hostile forces during the Korean War.
All of them were men in their 20s to 40s engaged in agriculture, who were forcibly taken by local leftists and partisans from December 1950 to August 1951; two died and two went missing, according to the investigation. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission decided to verify the truth of this incident and urged the National Assembly to legislate victim relief for the victims.
In 2022, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had recommended legislation to the 21st National Assembly and the government for compensation or reparation for truth verification decision cases, but this is the first time it has recommended victim relief legislation while deciding the truth verification of a specific incident.
Victims or bereaved families of truth verification cases must file a retrial or a state compensation lawsuit to receive compensation or reparation, but in many cases, the state's illegal liability is not recognized when sacrificed by hostile forces or foreign troops, resulting in losses. Victim relief legislation can be an effective measure to guarantee compensation and reparation.
On the 7th, the 94th meeting of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) is being held in Jung-gu, Seoul. Provided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Regarding this incident, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission also recommended follow-up measures such as urging an apology from the North Korean regime, supporting victim recovery and memorial projects, correcting public records such as family relation registries, and strengthening peace and human rights education. So far, 87 cases (116 victims) of sacrifices by hostile forces in the Hwasun area have received truth verification decisions.
Meanwhile, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission reviewed 22 cases (166 people) of those sacrificed by U.S. forces in Jeolla Province during the Korean War and confirmed that 14 civilians died and one was injured, issuing truth verification decisions. In addition, it also decided to verify the truth of the incident in Wando, Jeonnam, where 37 civilians were collectively sacrificed by military and police forces.
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