Incheon Ilbo: “TRC 3 to Investigate Individual Human Rights Violations at Seongam Academy.”

TRIGGER WARNING:
Uncomfortable historical truth. KSS’ Founder Kun Chil Paik was the Vice President and President of Seongam Academy in the 1940s, prior to his founding KSS in 1964.

Paperslip was the first English website or overall English publication which pointed out the historical tie between KSS Founder Kun Chil Paik and Seongam Academy. We were informed about this connection in 2020.

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You can find many of our posts related to Seongam Academy and KSS’ historical connection to Seongam Academy through KSS Founder Kun Chil Paik here.

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Incheon Ilbo Article:
Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission to Investigate Individual Human Rights Violations at Seongam Academy

Original Korean Article published by the Incheon Ilbo on September 8th, 2026.
ChatGPT English translation posted to Paperslip on September 9th, 2026.
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Reporter: Park Ji-hye
Published: September 8, 2026, 18:03
Updated: September 8, 2026, 18:04

“A view of the fourth meeting of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, held on the 8th in the commission’s main conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo provided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission” (See original Korean article for photographs).

“The Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Korea (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) will investigate the individual instances of harm suffered by victims of the Seongam Academy case.

According to a compilation of reporting by Incheon Ilbo on the 8th, the Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission held its fourth meeting that day in its main conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul, and decided to open investigations into 655 cases involving civilian deaths around the time of the Korean War, including the “human rights violations at Seongam Academy” case; 181 cases of human rights violations that occurred after liberation and before the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (November 24, 2001); and 207 cases involving human rights violations at group detention facilities and in the overseas adoption process, among others.

The human rights violations at Seongam Academy had already been found to constitute a truth-verified case by the Second Truth and Reconciliation Commission. At that time, investigation records and materials submitted by applicants confirmed the violation of children’s human rights at Seongam Academy in Gyeonggi Province, as well as the fact that individuals subject to truth verification had been detained at Seongam Academy.

Accordingly, the Third Commission decided to open an investigation in order to specifically establish the individual harm suffered by the applicants through its investigation.

It also began investigations into cases involving civilian deaths caused by the military and police around the time of the Korean War, as well as cases involving hostile forces.

First, the “civilian deaths caused by the military and police” cases occurred throughout the country after liberation and around the time of the Korean War. In most cases, civilians were killed in the course of identifying alleged collaborators with the North Korean People’s Army and other left-wing collaborators or alleged collaborators, and during operations to suppress guerrillas.

In Gyeonggi Province, the cases include incidents that occurred in Gapyeong, Gimpo, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, and other areas.

A view of the fourth meeting of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, held on the 8th in the commission’s main conference room in Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo provided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (See original Korean article for photos).

Considering the timing and location of the incidents, the perpetrators, the reasons for the deaths, the geographic circumstances, and the situation around the time of the Korean War, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission determined that there was a likelihood that the military and police had detained and executed civilians under the pretext of punishing guerrilla collaborators and participants in left-wing activities, or had carried out mass killings of civilians without following due process during anti-guerrilla operations.

The “cases involving hostile forces” refer to cases during the same period in which local residents were killed or disappeared at the hands of hostile forces, such as guerrillas and local left-wing groups, because they were right-wing figures or members of their families, or because they were prominent village residents, government officials, or members of families of Republic of Korea Armed Forces personnel.

Song Sang-gyo, chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said, “The significance is great in that, with the Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s first decision to conduct an ex officio investigation, full-scale investigative activities into historically important cases have begun.”

He continued, “We will do our utmost to respond to the voices of victims and bereaved families who have waited for the truth for a long time by uncovering the truth about structural state violence.”

Meanwhile, citing financial difficulties, the provincial government drastically cut related funding in this supplementary budget proposal, including support payments for Seongam Academy victims, compensation payments from civil lawsuits, and funding for the creation of a history and culture empathy space. In response, the provincial council pointed out during the budget review process that the government should adjust budget priorities for victims at the national level and enact special legislation to provide support and restore their honor.”

/ Park Ji-hye, Reporter
pjh@incheonilbo.com