The Debate Is Over: TRC 2 Was Affected In The NIRS Fire, Multiple Sources Confirm.
The Debate Is Over:
TRC 2 Was Affected In The NIRS Fire, Multiple Sources Confirm.
The Debate Is Over:
TRC 2 records were NOT transferred to the National Archives at the conclusion of TRC 2. Instead, they were transferred directly to TRC 3, placing them at significant risk — particularly in light of the NIRS fire on September 26th, 2025.
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Now that the FACTS are settled, let’s focus on the fact that TRC 2 and TRC 3 do NOT have a “Records Management System”:
The Hankyoreh Editorial: “Why the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC 3) Needs a Records Management Department.”
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Over the past week, we’ve worked diligently to validate the information we initially shared on March 8th, 2026. Throughout this process, we’ve remained focused on providing accurate, well-supported details to address and correct the patently false claims being circulated by another group.
At this point, everything we have shared on this topic — since first learning that TRC 2 was impacted by the National Information Resources Service (NIRS) fire in Daejeon on September 26th, 2025 — has been validated by multiple credible sources, including the South Korean President’s official blog.
We have therefore updated our March 8th, 2026 post to include PROOF that the NIRS fire did indeed impact two highly important TRC 2 systems, which were reportedly recovered. However, we have not been able to locate any detailed information regarding what data was affected or subsequently restored. At this time, available information only identifies the systems that were impacted and recovered, without specifying the data involved.
Please see our UPDATED post:
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).”
We want to emphasize that it is INDEFENSIBLE to maintain the position that TRC 2 was not impacted by the NIRS fire in any way.
It is also patently FALSE to state that TRC 2 records were transferred to the National Archives. TRC 2 records were transferred directly to TRC 3 so as to maintain continuity between the commissions.
However, the fact that TRC 2 records were NOT transferred to the National Archives at the conclusion of TRC 2, and were instead transferred directly to TRC 3, put TRC 2 records in significant jeopardy.
The issue of TRC 2 and TRC 3 failing to have a “Records Management System” was brought to light by both the Korean Association of Archivists and The Hankyoreh —both highly reputable publications which brought to light the fact that TRC 2 was impacted by the NIRS fire on September 26th, 2025. Please see the post linked above for more information.
Please also see:
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.