Naver News:
“Ministry of Health and Welfare Has Neglected Support for Brothers Home Victims for Over Two Years”

Posted to Paperslip on January 7th, 2026.
Original Korean article from News Naver published December 17th, 2025.
Please see original Korean article for photos.
Translation via ChatGPT.
Thank you to a Paperslip Contributor for the link.

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Naver News:

“Ministry of Health and Welfare Has Neglected Support for Brothers Home Victims for Over Two Years

By Lim Dong-woo
Published: December 17, 2025, 7:46 p.m.

Summary

“Restore honor and provide remedies,” despite 2022 recommendation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

– Joint projects with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Busan City also facing setbacks

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has failed for more than two years to even designate a department dedicated to supporting victims of the Brothers Home incident, causing the victims renewed suffering. While the ministry has stood by and done nothing, victims have not only been denied proper compensation but have also endured various inconveniences in their daily lives.

Former appearance of Brothers Home. International Newspaper DB

On the 17th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it is discussing the designation of a department to handle support for Brothers Home victims. In 2022, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Advancement of Justice (TRC) reported that when Brothers Home was closed in 1987, more than 3,000 people had been forcibly confined and subjected to harsh treatment, concluding that they had suffered human rights violations due to illegal acts by the state. The commission recommended that the government take measures to restore the victims’ honor and provide remedies.

In March 2023, it was decided that the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Busan Metropolitan City would jointly handle victim recovery and support. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Busan City designated responsible departments and are currently carrying out victim support programs. Busan City enacted an ordinance under which those recognized as victims receive a consolation payment (5 million won), living-stability assistance (200,000 won per month), and medical expense support (up to 5 million won annually).

However, as the Ministry of Health and Welfare has delayed its involvement, equity issues have arisen among Brothers Home victims. Busan City’s support is funded by the city budget based on the ordinance. Even if someone is recognized as a Brothers Home victim, they cannot receive city support unless they reside in Busan. Currently, 424 victims receive living-stability assistance from the city, but more than 200 victims living in other regions are unable to receive it.

If the Ministry of Health and Welfare were to step in and provide similar support using national government funds, victims could receive living-stability assistance and medical support for physical and psychological trauma regardless of where they live. A city official said, “Every month, we continue to receive calls from Brothers Home victims who do not live in Busan asking whether they are eligible for support and why they cannot receive it.”

The ministry’s effective neglect of victim recovery has also caused inconvenience for victims living in Busan and for the city government itself. Because they cannot use the computerized systems used by hospitals for registration and identity verification, receiving medical treatment remains difficult even when medical expenses are covered. The city must manually verify monthly address changes of local victims, create documents, and send them to hospitals to confirm victim status and provide medical expense support. If the city were allowed to use the ministry-managed system, individuals could be registered as Brothers Home victims in their personal records, significantly reducing the burden on both victims and hospitals. Furthermore, if a victim living alone passes away, victim organizations could be notified so fellow victims could see them off on their final journey.

The city plans to request access to the system from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, but because no responsible department has been designated, even discussions are difficult.

Brothers Home victims are demanding that the Ministry of Health and Welfare promptly designate a responsible department and begin its work. Park Kyung-bo, head of the Brothers Home Victims Association, said, “If it’s difficult to assign a department, then the minister or senior officials should designate one. We are at the point where we feel like we would clasp our hands and beg, if only it meant victims could receive support.”

The ministry explains that the delay is due to differences and overlaps in responsibilities among departments. A ministry official said, “We are discussing which department should take charge. We should have designated one earlier, and we are sorry for the delay.”’

Reporter: Lim Dong-woo (help@kookje.co.kr)