The Hankyoreh Article:
“Third Truth and Reconciliation Act Revision Passes National Assembly Subcommittee…More Commissioners, Expanded Investigation Scope”.

Posted to Paperslip on November 20th, 2025 at 9:30 pm PST.
Translation via ChatGPT.

According to the article, TRC 3 may launch February 26th, 2026.

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The Hankyoreh:

“Third Truth and Reconciliation Act Revision Passes National Assembly Subcommittee…More Commissioners, Expanded Investigation Scope

Reporter Ko Kyung-tae
Input: Nov. 20, 2025, 5:34 p.m.
Updated: Nov. 20, 2025, 6:04 p.m.

On October 22, in front of the main building of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, civil society groups held a press conference calling for the swift revision of the basic law for the third Truth and Reconciliation Commission. (Photo by senior reporter Yoon Woon-sik)

A bill amending the Framework Act on Clearing Up Past Incidents for Truth and Reconciliation (Past Affairs Act) has passed the Legislation Review Subcommittee of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee. The amendment extends the investigation period to a maximum of five years, increases the number of commissioners from the current nine to thirteen, and adds incidents involving group care facilities to the investigative scope. If the bill passes the plenary session without issue, the third commission is expected to launch on February 26 next year, the enforcement date stated in the supplementary provisions. Observers say the amendment “reflects not only the demands of victims and bereaved families but also incorporates a broad range of expert and staff opinions.”

According to statements from the National Assembly and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the 20th, the committee’s First Legislation Review Subcommittee met that afternoon, discussed key revisions and related issues, and passed the amendment by bipartisan agreement. The bill concerns the launch and composition of the third Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Under the amendment, the commission will expand to 13 members (including 4 standing commissioners). The president will nominate 3 members, and the National Assembly will elect 10 (1 nominated by the Speaker, 4 by the ruling party, 4 by the opposition, and 1 by a non-negotiating bloc). For standing commissioners, the president will nominate 2, and each major party will recommend 1. Compared to the second commission, the total number of commissioners increases by 4, and standing commissioners by 1.

With more commissioners, a new bureau dedicated to group care facilities will be added, in addition to the two existing investigation bureaus that handle civilian massacre cases from the Korean War and other human rights violations. Incidents at group care facilities were also added to the bill’s “scope of truth-finding.” This includes “human rights violations that occurred in social welfare institutions, adoption agencies, and group care facilities operated directly by the state or local governments, or operated by private institutions receiving government support, management, or oversight.”

The third commission’s launch date is expected to be February 26, 2026—the enforcement date decided at the November 17 subcommittee meeting. However, provisions requiring additional preparation time, such as drafting enforcement decrees, will take effect six months after promulgation.

The time period covered by the commission’s investigations is expanded from “up to the authoritarian era” (February 1993) to “before the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission” (November 2001), adding eight more years. Regarding victim rights, the amendment explicitly states “the right of victims and bereaved families to submit opinions during the truth-finding process and the state’s duty to protect them,” and establishes the legal basis for a deliberative public forum to gather opinions on guaranteeing victim rights.

Responsibility for overseeing government-agency implementation of commission recommendations is elevated from the Minister of the Interior and Safety to the Prime Minister. The amendment also incorporates demands from victim groups for stronger investigative powers. It newly establishes provisions allowing the commission to request search-and-seizure warrants from the chief prosecutor of the relevant district if individuals or institutions refuse to submit materials needed for truth-finding. If the commission determines that confirmed facts constitute criminal suspicion, it may file a complaint with the Prosecutor General or request an investigation by the relevant investigative agency. Standards for compensation, reparations, and restoration of honor will be set by separate legislation, though no deadline is specified.

The investigation period for the third commission will be increased to a maximum of five years, up from the current four. The basic period is three years, with the option of two extensions of up to one year each. Applications for truth-finding can be filed for two years and extended by commission resolution if needed. The amendment also creates a legal basis for remains recovery projects pursued by the second commission, including establishing a dedicated unit, collecting remains samples and conducting DNA analysis, and providing compensation for losses when necessary.

Following the subcommittee agreement, the amendment will move to the full Public Administration and Security Committee, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and then the plenary session before being forwarded to the government for promulgation. Jung Hyuk, head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission chapter of the Korean Government Employees’ Union, told The Hankyoreh: “The amendment reflects not only the demands of victims and bereaved families but also the broad input of experts and commission staff. It is especially encouraging that incidents at group care facilities were explicitly included in the investigative scope and that the number of commissioners was expanded to diversify nomination channels—issues long requested by victims and related groups.” He added, “Given that problems exposed during the operation of the second commission ironically triggered the push for a full-scale revision, I hope discussions proceed without major disagreements through the plenary session.”

Reporter Ko Kyung-tae (k21@hani.co.kr)