A News1 Article from February 26th, 2026 shows that TRC 2 files were NOT sent to the National Archives, as has been falsely claimed by some Korean Adoptees.
Paperslip Note:
We are sharing this older article by News1, published on February 26th, 2026 (the day that TRC 3 began), in order to prove that TRC 2 files were NOT sent to the National Archives of Korea, as has been falsely claimed by a Korean Adoptee led representative group for TRC 3.
While the News1 article does not explicitly state this, the files from the second Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC 2) appear to have been transferred directly to the third commission (TRC 3), instead of being transferred to the National Archives. According to the article, (which we have translated below), this appears to be because transferring the TRC 2 records to the National Archives of Korea would have required TRC 3 to request and retrieve them later, a process that could have taken more than a year. Victims’ groups sought to avoid such delays so that the work of TRC 3 could begin without interruption.
The goal of transferring TRC 2 files directly to TRC 3 appears to have been to ‘ensure an “uninterrupted reckoning with the past.”’ Therefore, TRC 2 records were NOT transferred to the National Archives.
This fact becomes important in the context of what we recently shared about a fire on September 26th, 2026 at the National Information Resources Service (NIRS), a government data center in Daejeon. This fire destroyed the G-drive and its backups, which directly affected TRC 2 data stored on the G-drive, according to both the Korean Association of Archivists and “The Hankyoreh”. Yet a Korean Adoptee led representative group for TRC 3 has flatly denied these facts, without providing a single shred of evidence to support their baseless claims.
By contrast, what we have shared here on Paperslip regarding the topic of destruction of TRC 2 data during the NIRS fire on September 26th, 2026 — and what this means in terms of the broader data management issues of TRC 2 and TRC 3 — has been supported by multiple credible, published articles:
Please see:
Statement by the Korean Association of Archivists: (We) “Strongly Urge the Establishment of a ‘Records Management Division’ in the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC 3).”
The Hankyoreh Article: “Records Experts: ‘A Records Management Division Must Be Established in the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission’”.
The Hankyoreh Editorial: “Why the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC 3) Needs a Records Management Department.”
The fact that a Korean Adoptee led group which both denies clear, well documented facts and deliberately disseminates misinformation in support of that denial — is acting as a representative for TRC 3 submissions on behalf of other Korean Adoptees, and, in doing so, asking individuals to submit their sensitive, private adoption documents through the group — raises serious concerns for us.
Furthermore, at least three Korean Adoptee board members of this group have participated in blocking our posts from various groups in order to prevent us from sharing the TRUTH about their misinformation. This is extremely problematic behavior which we have warned other Korean Adoptees about for years. Please see:
If a TRC 3 representative group of Korean Adoptees is unwilling to operate in a world of facts, why would you hand over to them your own private adoption documents?
However, the point of our recent blog posts on this topic is to not only shed light on the issues with this Korean Adoptee led representative group for TRC 3 — but to also illuminate the serious issues with TRC 2 and TRC 3’s data management in general. Korean Adoptees have a RIGHT to know about these issues, and they should NOT be gaslighted about serious TRC 3 concerns by those who have an agenda to collect Korean Adoptees’ documents (without their asking pesky questions) en masse.
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Posted to Paperslip on March 12, 2026.
Thank you to a Paperslip Contributor for the link.
Original Korean article published February 26th, 2026.
Translation via ChatGPT.
Some BOLDS and blue highlighting ours.
We have highlighted in blue the most relevant information below.
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Quote from the article below (we have underlined “would have been”, as this means “would have been, but were NOT”) —
“If the third commission (TRC 3) had launched even one day later, the records of the second commission would have been transferred to the National Archives of Korea, forcing the new commission to repeatedly request materials in order to continue its work.
When the second commission (TRC 2) was launched (in 2020) about 10 years after the first, it took more than a year and a half just to scan archived documents from the first commission.
Because the third commission begins immediately, continuity of investigations is expected.”
In other words — TRC 2 records were NOT transferred to the National Archives of Korea. They were instead (apparently) transferred directly to TRC 3.
Please see:
If a TRC 3 representative group of Korean Adoptees is unwilling to operate in a world of facts, why would you hand over to them your own private adoption documents?
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News1 Article: Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission launches “without a chairperson”… urgent tasks remain.”
(Paperslip Note: Please note that since this article was first published, a Chairman was appointed for TRC 3).
“ByReporter Yoo Chae-yeon
Published: Feb 26, 2026, 8:55 AM | Updated: Feb 26, 2026, 8:56 AM
The third term of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Investigating Past Incidents) (TRC 3) officially launches on February 26, (2026). Although there are high expectations because the commission will be able to investigate large-scale human rights violations that occurred in places such as social welfare institutions, adoption agencies, and group detention facilities, key positions such as the chairperson and commissioners remain vacant.
Launched to ensure “uninterrupted reckoning with the past”
On January 19, the revised Framework Act on Clearing up Past Incidents for Truth and Reconciliation passed the National Assembly. The amendment specifically states that the law will take effect on February 26, 2026.
This is unusual because most laws typically take effect six months after promulgation.
The date was fixed in order to avoid the time and cost wasted during the transition between the first and second commissions. The investigation period of the second Truth and Reconciliation Commission expired on May 26 last year (2025), and its liquidation period ends on February 26 (2026).
If the third commission (TRC 3) had launched even one day later, the records of the second commission would have been transferred to the National Archives of Korea, forcing the new commission to repeatedly request materials in order to continue its work.
When the second commission (TRC 2) was launched (in 2020) about 10 years after the first, it took more than a year and a half just to scan archived documents from the first commission.
Because the third commission begins immediately, continuity of investigations is expected.
This means progress can resume on:
2,111 cases whose investigations were halted when the previous investigation period expired
major institutional abuse cases such as Busan Brothers Home and Deokseongwon
new requests from victims who previously could not file applications.
A former official from the second commission (TRC 2) said:
“Many victims and witnesses are elderly, so time is critical. The key point is that the third commission can immediately continue the work of the second.”
“Investigation Bureau 3” still not established
Another notable change is that the third commission will be able to investigate large-scale human rights abuses in private institutions connected to the state.
The amended law expands the scope of investigations to include:
social welfare institutions
adoption agencies
group confinement facilities
that were directly operated or supported, managed, or supervised by the state or local governments.
However, the “Third Investigation Bureau” (Investigation Bureau 3)—which victims’ groups have demanded to handle cases such as overseas adoption and institutional abuse—has not yet been established in practice.
According to a draft revision of the enforcement decree announced by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the commission will have:
3 standing commissioners (one more than before)
137 total staff members
But aside from the additional commissioner, the staffing level is almost the same as the second commission (136 staff).
This has raised concerns among victims that the commission may continue operating with only two investigation bureaus, as before.
Some critics say the late passage of the amendment delayed revisions to the enforcement decree and organizational rules defining the roles of Investigation Bureaus 1, 2, and 3.
Another official from the second commission explained:
“Because the amendment passed late, the chairperson appointment was delayed and the enforcement decree couldn’t be revised in time. After the third commission launches, it will need to revise the decree again. It’s clear the system will eventually move to three investigation bureaus, but many tasks remain.”
Chairperson appointment is the most urgent task
Since many issues remain unresolved, the commission will likely need some time before it can begin full-scale investigations.
The commission must still:
recruit investigators and staff
organize the commission and secretariat
finalize its structure.
An advisor to the preparation committee said they have requested that the government prepare recruitment processes so they can begin immediately once a chairperson is appointed.
Ultimately, the top priority for the effective operation of the third commission is the rapid nomination of the chairperson and commissioners by the President and the National Assembly.
However, officials expect the appointment of the chairperson may take some time.
First cases expected: overseas adoption investigations
About 300 cases related to overseas adoptions in Europe are expected to be filed as the first petitions to the third commission.
Civil society groups preparing a joint petition will also hold a press conference calling for the swift establishment of Investigation Bureau 3.”