Paperslip Note:
According to an earlier translated article by the Kookje Daily News, below is a chronology of the Busan based facilities in which human rights abuses took place, which are discussed in the Busan Ilbo article below:
The chronology of these three social welfare facilities reported by Kookje Shinmun is:
영화숙·재생원 → 칠성원 (1971–1975) → 형제복지원 (1975–1987)
Yeonghwa-suk·Jaesaengwon → Chilseongwon (1971–1975) → Brothers Welfare Center / “Brothers Home” (1975–1987)
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I have been following news about Brothers Home for years — and more recently news about related facilities — since Busan was a major source of children for the pipeline of overseas adoption.
While there is scant proof, since facility operators apparently destroyed most of it, I have long believed that it is inevitable that many children from the facilities discussed in the Kookje Daily News and Busan Ilbo articles ended up being funneled through Nam Kwang Orphanage in Busan. Nam Kwang was a major source of children for both KSS and Holt for decades.
There are many posts on Paperslip about Nam Kwang Orphanage in Busan, which is still open today. Please note that it is well documented that while KSS definitely did source a great many children from Nam Kwang, KSS also frequently used Nam Kwang as FAKE information in KSS Adoptees’ files.
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Busan Ilbo:
“Busan City to Cooperate with Truth Commission on Investigations into Past Human Rights Abuses, Including Brothers Home”
Original Korean article posted on October 19th, 2026.
ChatGPT translation posted to Paperslip on November 8th, 2026.
Please see original Korean article for photos.
BOLDS and blue highlighting ours.
We may have added some information in parentheses ( ) and additional information for clarity.
Thank you to a Paperslip Contributor for the link.
“Reporter: Kim Dong-woo Published: October 19, 2026, 5:14 p.m.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission requests records and secondment of city officials
Mayor Jeon Jae-soo: “We will actively cooperate”
Busan-related cases account for 1,030, or 56%, of the total
Victims at Yeonghwasuk·Jaesaengwon and Deokseongwon, among others, have been officially recognized”
*Paperslip Note: Click here for more translated articles on Paperslip about the facilities Yeonghwasuk·Jaesaengwon and Deokseongwon.
“Song Sang-gyo (right), chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, met with Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo at Busan City Hall on the 16th to discuss cooperation on investigations into historical cases. Photo provided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Busan City has agreed to cooperate with the Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC 3) (hereafter, the Commission) to establish the truth about human rights violations at group residential facilities in the Busan region, including Brothers Home.
On October 19, the Commission announced that its chairperson, Song Sang-gyo, had met with Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo at Busan City Hall on the morning of October 16. They discussed ways to cooperate in investigating human rights violations at group residential facilities, including Brothers Home, Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon, Deokseongwon, and Chilseongwon.
*Paperslip Note: Click here for more translated articles on Paperslip about the facilities Yeonghwasuk·Jaesaengwon and Deokseongwon.
Click here for more translated articles on Paperslip about Chilseongwon.
During the meeting, Chairperson Song asked Busan City to provide relevant case records, assign municipal officials to work specifically on the investigations, assist with arrangements for on-site investigations, and promote information about how to file applications for official truth-finding investigations.
Mayor Jeon responded:
“I strongly agree with the importance of addressing and resolving historical injustices. We will actively cooperate with investigations into cases of violent human rights violations perpetrated by the state.”
According to the Commission, a total of 1,852 cases involving group residential facilities and social welfare institutions nationwide had been submitted since the launch of the Third Commission, through the end of last month. Of these, approximately 56% (1,030 cases) concern 18 facilities located in Busan.
By facility, Brothers Home accounted for the largest number, with 640 cases, followed by Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon with 165, Deokseongwon with 133, and Chilseongwon with 32.
Previously, the Second Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC 2) had issued official truth-finding decisions recognizing victims of abuses at major group residential facilities in Busan, including Brothers Home, Yeonghwasuk and Jaesaengwon, and Deokseongwon.
On October 19, Chairperson Song also attended the joint memorial ceremony marking the 78th anniversary of the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident, held at Ocheon Green Square in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. There, he met with Min Hyeong-bae, mayor of the integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, and requested cooperation with investigations into historical cases in the region.
By the end of last month, the Third Commission had received 3,989 applications involving civilian deaths and casualties around the time of the Korean War, including cases whose investigations had been suspended by the Second Commission.
Of these, 1,811 applications (45.4%) came from South Jeolla Province and Gwangju, the largest regional share.
By category, the overwhelming majority—1,561 cases—involved civilian deaths caused by military personnel or police, incidents involving the National Bodo League, and deaths or abuses in prisons.
Applications for official truth-finding investigations will be accepted until February 25, 2028.
Applications may be submitted not only by victims and their surviving family members, but also by people who learned about the incidents from others.
Applications can be filed in person at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission or at the civil service offices of city halls, county offices, and district offices. They can also be submitted by mail.
Chairperson Song stated:
“Cooperation from local governments is essential both in receiving applications for truth-finding investigations and throughout the investigation process. We ask for your extensive cooperation.”’
Reporter: Kim Dong-woo friend@busan.com