TRC3 in the News
- USKRG
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
Updated: May 11
News about the third Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC3) examining past human rights violations in adoption practices in South Korea. For more information about the latest TRC, please see USKRG's TRC3 page.
May 11, 2026
The Korea JoongAng Daily
"Korean adoptees who were sent abroad between the 1970s and 1990s filed a new round of investigation requests with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Monday, marking the 21st Adoption Day with calls for the country to confront alleged abuses in its overseas adoption program and to punish those responsible."
March 11, 2026
The Korea Times "In the previous commission, investigations were conducted by a relatively small number of personnel," Song said. "We will recruit more experts so that a more systematic investigation can be carried out."
March 4, 2026
Seoul Economic Daily
Song Sang-kyo, the newly appointed chairman of the third Truth and Reconciliation Commission, emphasized at his inauguration ceremony on the 4th that "the commission's reason for existence lies in restoring victims' dignity and honor."
March 2, 2026
The Korea Times
Song Sang-kyo, a human rights lawyer, was nominated to lead the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Song previously served as secretary general of Lawyers for a Democratic Society and as director-general of the commission’s secretariat.
February 26, 2026
Associated Press The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the third in the country’s history, began accepting new cases Thursday, months after the previous one’s mandate ended in November with more than 2,100 complaints unresolved. United States accounted for the second-largest group [of applicants] with 73.
The Korea Times According to KoRoot, a civic group supporting adoptees, adoptees from 15 countries, including Denmark, the United States, France, Norway and Sweden, have filed complaints with the newly established TRC. More are expected to join by filing through Korean embassies abroad.
January 29, 2026
The Korea Times
The third TRC is scheduled to launch on Feb. 26, following revisions to the Framework Act on Settling the Past for Truth and Reconciliation, passed by the National Assembly last Thursday. The second TRC was launched in December 2020, but investigations did not begin until May 2021. The third commission is expected to take over unfinished cases and broaden the scope of investigations.