Interview of Song Sang-gyo, Chairperson of the TRC3
- USKRG
- Jun 25
- 7 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
In a new translated interview with MBC News, Chairperson Song Sang-gyu acknowledges the shortcomings of TRC2, outlines how TRC3 expands upon TRC2's groundwork, and recognizes some of the challenges faced by TRC3 such as staffing shortages and restitution laws.
The following has been transcripted and translated by Google Translate:
News Rotation Interview Time. Today we are joined by Song Sang-gyo, Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Korea.
Host: Welcome, Chairperson. Chairperson: Hello. Thank you for having me.
Host: Some people are familiar with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, while others may wonder what exactly it does. Could you explain its role?
Chairperson: Certainly. Because the full name is quite long, people usually call it the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In simple terms, it is an independent investigative body established by the state to investigate painful episodes from our past. The cases we mainly investigate include civilian casualties before and after the Korean War, human rights violations committed by government authorities during authoritarian regimes, and more recently, human rights abuses that occurred in institutional care facilities or during overseas adoption processes.
When victims or their surviving family members submit applications, we investigate the cases, gather records and evidence, hear testimony, and determine the facts. If the facts are confirmed, we issue a formal finding establishing the truth. We also make recommendations to the government and relevant agencies regarding any necessary follow-up measures.
There have been two previous Truth and Reconciliation Commissions. However, because many issues remained unresolved, the third commission was launched this February.
Host: So this is the third commission. What are the differences between the first and second commissions and this third one?
Chairperson: There are several differences.
First, the scope of investigations has expanded significantly. Previously, investigations into human rights violations focused primarily on abuses committed directly by the state. The third commission can now directly investigate abuses that occurred in facilities such as institutional care centers and in overseas adoption systems.
Previously, investigations into human rights violations focused primarily on abuses committed directly by the state. The third commission can now directly investigate abuses that occurred in facilities such as institutional care centers and in overseas adoption systems.
The period covered by investigations has also been extended. Previously, investigations generally covered incidents through the 1990s. Now the commission can investigate cases that occurred up to November 2001.
In addition, investigative powers have been strengthened. For example, we can request the filing of warrants, and when evidence of criminal conduct is found during an investigation, we can request criminal investigations or prosecutions.
There are also new measures aimed at strengthening victims' rights, including the establishment of support structures for victims and provisions that can exempt certain cases from statutes of limitations to facilitate redress. Overall, there have been many important changes.
Host: It has been about 100 days since the commission launched. What accomplishments have you achieved so far?
Chairperson: The reason the third commission was created is that many cases were not fully resolved by the previous commissions.
Cases involving historical injustices become more difficult over time. Victims are aging, documents disappear, and evidence becomes harder to find. I truly believe this is our last opportunity, so I approach this work with a strong sense of urgency.
Since the commission has only been operating for about three months, it may be too early to speak of major achievements. Right now, our most important task is accepting applications. During these three months, we have received about 5,000 applications. At the same time, we have been laying the groundwork internally to begin full-scale investigations.
Host: Is 5,000 applications a large number?
Compared with the same period during the second commission, applications have roughly doubled. Even we were surprised by how many applications came in.
Chairperson: Compared with the same period during the second commission, applications have roughly doubled. Even we were surprised by how many applications came in. This shows that many people are still suffering from unresolved human rights violations. It reminds us of the weight of our responsibilities.
Host: Do you investigate only cases that are submitted, or can you launch investigations on your own authority?
Chairperson: Our basic principle is to investigate cases that are formally submitted. However, if we only investigate applications, it becomes difficult to uncover the truth about cases that have never been reported. When the commission determines that a matter is historically significant and requires clarification of the truth, we believe it is important to conduct investigations on our own authority. Beginning in the second half of this year, we plan to formally launch such investigations.
Host: With 5,000 applications in just three months, your workload must be growing significantly. Do you have enough personnel?
Honestly, we do not have enough investigators relative to the number of cases. Expanding our workforce is extremely important. We are consulting closely with other government agencies and local governments and requesting additional personnel.
Chairperson: Honestly, we do not have enough investigators relative to the number of cases. Expanding our workforce is extremely important. We are consulting closely with other government agencies and local governments and requesting additional personnel. Internally, we are also trying to make the most effective use of available resources. We have established a new bureau dedicated to cases involving institutional facilities and overseas adoptions. We are also creating specialized investigative units, for example, for identifying remains and for investigating suspicious deaths. We are developing a more systematic investigative structure.
Host: Cooperation from government agencies must be critical. There was news today that the commission received information from the National Intelligence Service about civilians killed by military and police forces during the Korean War. How did this cooperation come about, and how can cooperation be improved further?
Chairperson: Investigating historical cases is much more difficult than investigating recent events because so much time has passed. Securing records is therefore the most important challenge. The first and second commissions made substantial efforts to obtain records, but in many cases access was difficult, and this prevented some truths from being fully established.
From the very beginning, the third commission identified record acquisition as a top priority. We have been working closely with the military, police, and National Intelligence Service. As you mentioned, a few days ago, after extensive discussions, the National Intelligence Service provided us with what is called the “List of Those Executed During the Korean War.” This is an extremely significant collection of records. It contains information on people who died or were victimized during the Korean War. The records were originally compiled by various institutions and gathered by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency in 1978.
The previous commissions wanted to obtain these records but were unable to do so. It was a major disappointment. Fortunately, the National Intelligence Service cooperated actively this time. These records will greatly assist our efforts to establish the truth regarding civilian casualty cases. Because obtaining records remains critically important, we will continue seeking cooperation from other agencies and hope they will actively assist us as well.
Host: I hope other organizations will cooperate too. I understand you've been meeting regularly with victim groups. What do they talk to you about?
The most important thing for me is listening to victims. The commission exists because there are victims seeking justice. Many victims tell us they feel frustrated. They want the truth to be established as soon as possible.
Chairperson: The most important thing for me is listening to victims. The commission exists because there are victims seeking justice. Many victims tell us they feel frustrated. They want the truth to be established as soon as possible. They also say that many people still don't know the commission is accepting applications, so they ask us to increase public awareness and encourage more people to come forward. They frequently request independent investigations and often speak about the need for compensation legislation. We listen carefully to these concerns and intend to reflect them faithfully in our work.
Regarding awareness campaigns, this is one of our greatest challenges. Many victims are elderly or live in institutions, making access to information difficult. I would like to ask media organizations like yours to help raise public awareness of the significance of these historical investigations.
Host: That's why we invited you today. Looking ahead, what institutional reforms are most needed?
We urgently need a compensation law that allows cases recognized by the commission to be compensated quickly and fairly.
Chairperson: There are several, but I will mention the two I consider most important.
First, we need legislation that provides compensation and reparations for victims whose cases have been officially recognized. If the commission establishes the truth, the state should naturally accept responsibility and take measures to restore victims' rights. However, there is currently no legal framework to provide compensation automatically. As a result, victims must file their own lawsuits, which can take a long time and often leave some victims without proper remedies. Therefore, we urgently need a compensation law that allows cases recognized by the commission to be compensated quickly and fairly. This is the issue victims raise most often.
[T]he enormous amount of information collected through investigations must be preserved, researched, remembered, and used for educational purposes.
Second, we need to create a foundation dedicated to historical truth and reconciliation. The commission itself is a temporary organization that can exist for up to five years. Once that period ends, the commission will disappear. However, the enormous amount of information collected through investigations must be preserved, researched, remembered, and used for educational purposes. These follow-up tasks are extremely important. To accomplish that, we need a stable institution that can continue the work. I believe it is essential to establish such a foundation before the third commission completes its mandate.
Host: I hope many citizens who watch this program will take an interest in this important work. That brings us to the end of today's interview. Thank you for joining us.
Chairperson: Thank you.
