BeMinor Article: “From Facility to Facility…TRC 3 Moves to Uncover Human Rights Violations in Collective Detention Facilities.”
“From Facility to Facility… Truth and Reconciliation Commission Moves to Uncover Human Rights Violations in Collective Detention Facilities.”
Posted to Paperslip on March 17th, 2026.
Originally posted in Korea on March 11th, 2026.
Thank you to a Paperslip Contributor for the link.
Translation via ChatGPT.
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By Reporter Kim So-young, Published 2026.03.11 16:42
Chairman Song Sang-gyo Holds First Press Briefing a Week After Inauguration
"Recognizing limits of facility-by-facility investigations…Planning comprehensive surveys considering structural patterns"
Task Force for Investigation Bureau 3, dedicated to collective detention facilities, may launch as early as this week
On the morning of March 11 at 10:30 a.m., a press briefing was held in the main conference room of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Jung-gu, Seoul, marking the launch of the 3rd-term TRC.
Song Sang-gyo, chairman of the 3rd-term TRC, held his first press briefing just one week after his inauguration.
At the briefing, Song stated, “I will approach this with the resolve that this is the last opportunity to achieve a full reckoning with the past.” He also announced plans to launch a preparatory Task Force (TF) for Investigation Bureau 3, which will specifically handle human rights violation cases related to collective detention facilities and overseas adoption.
“Recognizing the Limits of Facility-Specific Investigations…Comprehensive Surveys Will Consider Structural Patterns”
As of March 10, about two weeks after the launch of the 3rd-term TRC, 1,309 applications for truth verification had been submitted. Of these, 864 cases—or 66%—involved human rights violations in collective detention facilities or overseas adoption.
During the briefing, reporters asked several questions about these cases. In the previous, 2nd-term TRC, investigations into collective detention facilities were conducted facility by facility. This sometimes forced victims who had been moved between facilities to submit additional applications to verify the truth of their experiences in each separate facility.
Responding to this, Chairman Song said, “Even among investigators, there was recognition of what we call ‘revolving-door detention,’ where one person passes through multiple facilities and remains under detention conditions. We realized that facility-specific investigations alone cannot fully capture these structural issues.”
He added, “If we conduct investigations on our own authority, we must go beyond facility-by-facility investigations and investigate in a way that identifies structural patterns across key categories such as children and women.”
Reporters also asked about specific cases of sexual and reproductive rights violations inside facilities, such as sexual assault at Saekdongwon, a residential facility for severely disabled persons in Ganghwa, Incheon, and forced sterilization or contraception at Dongmyeongwon in Mokpo. Song responded, “It is not appropriate to disclose detailed investigation plans at this stage, but we are focusing on female victims among the main types of harm in detention facilities. These issues will be prioritized in future investigations, including from a gender-based violence perspective.”
Preparatory Task Force for Investigation Bureau 3 May Launch as Early as This Week
Chairman Song had announced at his inauguration on March 4 the plan to establish Investigation Bureau 3 to handle collective detention facility and overseas adoption cases. According to the TRC, a preparatory TF for this bureau is being organized. This temporary organization is necessary to handle cases until the official bureau and staffing are secured.
Park Sang-woo, head of Investigation Division 7, will concurrently serve as TF leader, with staff from Divisions 2, 3, 6, and 8 participating in a supporting role.
The TF will operate in three teams: Investigation Team 1 will handle homeless shelters, Team 2 will investigate child and women’s facilities, and Team 3 will handle human rights violations in overseas adoption agencies. The TF will operate temporarily until the “Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on the Investigation of Past Affairs for Truth and Reconciliation” is amended to allow the formation of Investigation Bureau 3.
Chairman Song said, “We plan to officially launch the preparatory TF as early as this week to review cases that Investigation Bureau 3 will handle, meet with victims, and conduct preliminary preparations. We are consulting with relevant ministries and will do our best to secure the necessary personnel.”
On Potential Apology from President Lee Jae-myung for State Violence
Song was also asked about the possibility of an official apology from President Lee Jae-myung regarding human rights violations caused by state violence. He said, “I understand that the President is fully aware that an appropriate state-level apology must be made proactively to achieve victim recovery and reconciliation. I expect this will be actively considered.”
The 3rd-term TRC was launched on February 26 after the revised “Framework Act on the Investigation of Past Affairs for Truth and Reconciliation”—which expands investigation targets, duration, and scope—passed the National Assembly plenary session on January 29. On the first day, over 300 overseas adoption victims submitted truth verification applications.”
Related Articles:
Song Sang-gyo, Chairman of the 3rd-term TRC: “We Will Establish Investigation Bureau 3 for Collective Detention Facilities”
Restoring 24 Years of Erased Minor Questions / Ha Geum-cheol
Facility Victims and Overseas Adoption Survivors Demand a Dedicated Investigation Bureau for 3rd-term TRC
Past Affairs Act Revision Passed in National Assembly… 3rd-term TRC to Launch in February
Lifelong Wait for Justice: Records of First Trial for Victims of Yeong-suk Film & Jaesaengwon / Lee Jeong-ha
Reporter Kim So-young, young@beminor.com