Kukinews: “The State Admits to State Violence, Then Argues Otherwise in Court”… Yang Bu-nam: “Why Does the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Exist?” [2026 National Audit].

Paperslip Note:
Each year the S. Korean Government undergoes a “National Audit” — which, according to ChatGPT, is “an annual, nationwide audit of government operations conducted to examine the legality, accountability, and efficiency of public administration and the use of public resources.”

The article below discusses the national audit of the TRC.

None of the 56 Adoptees who received a Decision as a result of TRC 2 have had a successful compensation claim in court. Whereas members of victim groups like Overseas Adoptees might receive a Decision by TRC 2 or (later) TRC 23, the path toward compensation in S. Korea’s legal system continues to be fraught with difficulties.

Amongst other victims’ groups, some Overseas Adoptees struggle to understand the meaning of TRC, if TRC Decisions are legally meaningless.

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Kukinews Article:
“The State Admits to State Violence, Then Argues Otherwise in Court”… Yang Bu-nam: “Why Does the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Exist?” [2026 National Audit].

Original Korean article posted on October 6th, 2026.
ChatGPT translation posted to Paperslip on October 6th, 2026.
Please see original Korean article for photos.
Some BOLDS and all blue highlighting ours.

“The State Admits to State Violence, Then Argues Otherwise in Court”… Yang Bu-nam: “Why Does the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Exist?” [2026 National Audit]

• “The state acknowledges state violence, but the agencies under its jurisdiction argue against it in court… This deceives the public.”

• Commission Chair Song Sang-kyo: “We share implementation materials by agency… We will continue to monitor the implementation of recommendations.”

• Calls also made for a comprehensive compensation and damages law… Concerns raised over the burden on victims of having to file individual lawsuits

Published: October 6, 2026, 2:54:39 PM
Updated: October 6, 2026, 5:33:56 PM

“A criticism was raised during the National Assembly’s audit that even when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Investigation of Past Incidents (TRCK) recognizes victims of state violence and recommends an apology and measures to restore their rights, the relevant government agencies sometimes fail to properly implement those recommendations. In some cases, the agencies have even taken positions in damages lawsuits that contradict the commission’s findings.

On October 6, Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Bu-nam questioned Song Sang-kyo, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, during the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee audit, focusing on the implementation of the commission’s recommendations and compensation for victims.

Yang said, “Even when the truth is established by the commission, victims have to file another lawsuit if they want to receive compensation or damages.” He pointed out that “sometimes those lawsuits succeed and sometimes they do not,” adding that “a comprehensive compensation and damages law is needed.”

In response, Chair Song explained that bills have been introduced in the 22nd National Assembly aimed at providing comprehensive compensation and damages for cases in which the commission has issued findings. He added that several bills have also been proposed concerning specific types of cases, including incidents involving detention and other state-run facilities.

Yang particularly emphasized the importance of a system for checking whether the commission’s recommendations are actually being implemented by the relevant agencies. “If it ends with simply issuing a recommendation, it has no meaning,” he said. “For the commission to have a reason for existing, its recommendations must actually be implemented by the relevant agencies.”

He continued, “Even if the commission makes a recommendation, it is meaningless if the relevant agency does not implement it,” urging the commission to more actively monitor how each agency responds after recommendations are issued.

Chair Song replied, “That is not the case,” saying, “We continue to share information and are also keeping track of the situation at each agency.”

Yang then raised examples involving victims of past state violence and criticized cases in which the relevant agencies took positions during damages lawsuits that contradicted the commission’s findings.

According to Yang, in one case the commission determined that investigative authorities had carried out illegal arrests and harsh treatment and recommended that the state apologize and take measures to restore the victim’s honor. Although the relevant agency submitted an implementation plan, it later argued in a damages lawsuit brought by the victim that it was difficult to accept the commission’s findings as they stood.

Yang criticized this, saying, “One state agency acknowledges the state violence, while another does not, forcing the victim to file another lawsuit.” He added, “When the case goes to court, the relevant agency is saying things that contradict the commission’s decision.”

Referring to another past espionage case, Yang noted that “the commission determined that there had been illegal arrests and harsh treatment and recommended an apology and reconciliation measures, but the relevant agency is once again demanding that the victim prove what happened.”

He continued, “The state spends money operating the commission and acknowledges state violence, but if the relevant agency takes the exact opposite position, what meaning is there in the commission’s existence?” He described this as “deceiving the public.”

Chair Song expressed agreement with the need to strengthen the effectiveness of the commission’s recommendations and responded that he would continue monitoring how the relevant agencies implement them.

Yang also stressed that the system itself needs to be improved because victims, even after receiving a commission decision establishing the truth, are required to go through lengthy civil litigation again to dispute the facts of their victimization and the state’s responsibility.

The broader point was that, in order for the commission’s findings to lead to meaningful restoration of victims’ rights, the government needs to establish a comprehensive compensation system and strengthen government-level oversight of the implementation of the commission’s recommendations.”

Reporter: Cho Jin-su
Email: rokmc4390@kukinews.com