North American Korean Rights Groups' Joint Statement on Passage of TRC3
- USKRG
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON/OTTAWA/SEOUL – January 29, 2026 – The United States Korean Rights Group (USKRG) & Canadian Korean Rights Group (CKRG) acknowledge the passage of the Transitional Redress and Compliance Act (TRC3) by the Korean National Assembly today. “While the outcome was widely anticipated, the breadth of bipartisan support—with only eight votes (out of 300) cast in opposition—underscores the significance of this legislation and its far-reaching implications,” says Peter Regel Møller, Co-Founder of Danish Korean Rights Group & Co-Director of KoRoot in Korea.
The two North American Korean Rights Groups note that TRC3 includes provisions establishing a separate review and investigative team specifically tasked with cases involving intercountry adoptees. “The creation of an adoptee-focused unit reflects recognition that adoptee cases raise distinct legal, evidentiary, and humanitarian considerations that differ from other categories addressed under the Act”, says Yuh Schabacker-Koppel, President of USKRG.
“The creation of an adoptee-focused unit reflects recognition that adoptee cases raise distinct legal, evidentiary, and humanitarian considerations that differ from other categories addressed under the Act”, says Yuh Schabacker-Koppel, President of USKRG.
While this structural distinction is notable, North American Korean Rights Groups emphasize that the effectiveness of such a team will depend on its independence, mandate, evidentiary standards, and access to records—particularly those involving sealed files, private agencies, and cross-border documentation. The existence of a separate team alone does not guarantee due process, transparency, or meaningful redress for affected adoptees and families.
North American Korean Rights Groups will continue to closely monitor the implementation of TRC3, including the operation of the adoptee-specific team and its real-world impact on individuals and families. We call on Korean authorities to engage openly with adoptee communities, civil society organizations, and international partners to ensure the law is implemented transparently and in accordance with principles of justice and human dignity.
North American Korean Rights Groups further recommends that adoptees who have registered with DKRG as part of the group submission of cases remain attentive to forthcoming communications regarding an upcoming informational meeting, at which additional details and guidance on next steps will be provided.
USKRG & CKRG remain committed to constructive dialogue and to advocating for accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights in all matters affecting U.S/Canada–Korea relations.
The Korean Rights Groups of North America, U.S. Korean Rights Group (USKRG) and Canadian Korean Rights Group (CKRG) started as non-partisan, grassroots movements by a small group of like-minded volunteers living across the United States and Canada. We are Korean adoptees, family members, and activists participating in our communities with the belief that international adoptions to the United States and Canada should be conducted ethically, free from monetary incentives, and in full compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Together, we advocate for Korean Adoptees’ right to know their origins, accountability of adoption agencies, worldwide awareness of adoptee issues, and information empowerment for Korean Adoptees.
Media Contacts:
United States: Yuh Schabacker-Koppel info@uskrg.org
Canada (English): Kelly Foston canadakrg@gmail.com
Canada (French): Kimura Byol canada.ckrg@gmail.com
South Korea: Boon Young Han: boonyoung.han@danishkorean.dk
USKRG: www.uskrg.org
