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"The 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cannot Be Delayed Any Further.
Emergency Committee for Uninterrupted Historical Settlement and Restoration of Historical Justice Makes Policy Proposal to the National Assembly”.
Posted to Paperslip on August 27th, 2025.
Original Korean article published June 25th, 2025.
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Translation via ChatGPT.
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June 25th, 2025 17:08ㅣLast updated June 26, 2025 12:39
"The 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission Cannot Be Delayed Any Further"
Emergency Committee for Uninterrupted Historical Settlement and Restoration of Historical Justice Makes Policy Proposal to the National Assembly
By Kim Seong-su (wadans)
In April, Rep. Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party introduced an amendment to the Truth and Reconciliation Act to expedite the launch of the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission. At a press conference, she stated that "the National Assembly must discuss the launch of the 3rd Commission to ensure uninterrupted historical settlement."
While the phrase “let’s not dwell on the past” continues to be repeated, victims of state violence are still living in pain. Calls for the prompt establishment of the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission and systemic reform are now being directed at the National Assembly.
Amid renewed interest in historical injustices following the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, expert organizations and victims' groups have submitted policy proposals to the National Assembly. The Emergency Committee for Uninterrupted Historical Settlement and Restoration of Historical Justice (hereinafter “Historical Settlement Committee”) recently sent formal policy proposals to lawmakers, urging legal amendments and institutional reforms necessary for the launch of the 3rd Commission.
The Committee is a coalition including the Tenacious Group for State Violence Research, the Past Affairs Settlement Committee of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), the Truth and Reconciliation Branch of the National Public Officials Union, and a Collective Facility Research Group. In April, it co-hosted a parliamentary forum with 21 lawmakers and over 20 victims’ organizations.
“The Failures of the 2nd Commission Must Not Be Repeated”
In its policy proposal, the Committee highlighted the shortcomings of the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission, stressing that systemic reforms must come first to avoid repeating past mistakes.
The 2nd Commission, which began in 2020, officially concluded its investigation period on May 26, but of the 20,924 total cases, only 11,908 (56.9%) resulted in findings of truth. Meanwhile, 2,116 cases (10.1%) were terminated during the investigation, and 679 (3.2%) were deemed “unable to determine truth.” With many victims and their families aging rapidly, further delays risk irreversible discontinuities.
The Committee criticized the 2nd Commission for being led by ideologically biased figures who were disconnected from victims and civil society, and for being overly bureaucratic. It warned: "The Commission must not become another state apparatus that causes secondary harm to victims of state violence."
They also pointed out that, because the 2nd Commission focused only on requested investigations, newly discovered incidents — including abuses in group facilities, overseas adoptions, and state-led sexual violence — were essentially neglected.
“The 3rd Commission Must Undergo Fundamental Reform Through Legal Amendments”
The Historical Settlement Committee outlined key priorities for the 3rd Commission:
Expansion of the scope and duration of investigations
Strengthening investigative authority
Clarifying criteria for appointing members
Operating with a victim-centered approach
The current law allows for a 3-year investigation period (extendable by 2 years), but the Committee insists the 3rd Commission will need more time. It also called for expanded authority to investigate cases proactively, including those previously suspended or requiring reinvestigation.
Regarding member appointments, they argued that individuals who distort history or justify state violence should be excluded, and that qualified experts should be prioritized. They also suggested introducing a system allowing the National Assembly to impeach the commission chair if necessary.
One key priority is the explicit inclusion of provisions to guarantee victims' rights — similar to those in special laws for events like the Jeju 4·3 Massacre and the Itaewon Halloween Disaster. They also called for the creation of public forums during investigations and hearings to protect victims and prevent secondary harm.
“Compensation Is Just the Beginning—Institutionalizing Follow-up Measures Is Urgent”
The Committee also addressed the limitations of the current compensation system, calling for a shift from an individual litigation-based approach to one that clearly recognizes state responsibility through formal procedures.
Many victims who received favorable findings from the Commission later lost in lawsuits for state compensation, or suffered additional harm from government appeals. The Committee stressed that claims for damages following truth findings should not be subject to statutes of limitations, and called for a separate compensation law.
It also proposed the establishment of a dedicated agency for implementing follow-up measures, noting that many of the Commission’s recommendations have gone unimplemented. While the Ministry of the Interior’s Past Affairs Support Team currently handles some functions, experts agree it lacks the authority and capacity to be effective.
Other areas needing legal or institutional support include:
Commemorating victims
Correcting public records and school textbooks
Promoting public awareness of the Commission’s findings
Without tangible steps toward societal healing and national unity, they warned, the effort to address historical wrongs would remain incomplete.
“Never Again”—Urgent Legislative Action for Historical Justice
The Committee reiterated that addressing historical injustices is foundational to democracy and human rights in South Korea. It cited the recently exposed “December 3rd Rebellion” — an act of constitutional subversion — as a case underscoring the urgent need for legislative and institutional safeguards against state violence.
They argued for restrictions on the abuse of emergency powers by state agencies, revision or repeal of the National Security Act, and reform of national security institutions. Without mechanisms to enforce the Commission's recommendations, they warned, it would be difficult to break the cycle of state violence.
The policy proposal was led by Kim Sang-sook (sociologist and research professor at Sungkonghoe University), with contributions from archivist Kang Byun-gu, Professor Kim Jae-hyung (Korea National Open University), Research Professor Lee Hyung-sook (Sungkonghoe University), researcher Jung Won-ok (Cultural Society Research Institute), and Jung Hyuk (head of the Truth and Reconciliation Branch of the Public Officials Union).
The Historical Settlement Committee plans to continue its advocacy through policy meetings with the National Assembly and legislative campaigns. They emphasized that what is now needed is “the courage not to forget the past”—the first step toward truth, reconciliation, and justice.