Truth & Reconciliation FAQ
- USKRG
- Feb 2
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 9
Last Updated July 2026. Please check back as USKRG will update our FAQ regularly.
Sections
What is the TRC in general?
What does "TRC" Stand for?
"TRC" Stands for Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
According to the United Nations, “'[t]ruth commissions are official, temporary, non-judicial fact-finding bodies that investigate a pattern of abuses of human rights or humanitarian law committed over a number of years. These bodies take a victim-centered approach and conclude their work with a final report of findings of fact and recommendations.' Truth and reconciliation commissions are considered one of the several tools in the transitional justice toolbox available to nations that are seeking to rebuild societies in the wake of conflict and/or trauma."
What is the history of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC)?
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission did not begin as an investigation into adoption issues only, nor did it begin in Korea. In general, a Commission is established as an independent body in any country whenever there is a strong reason to believe historical human rights abuses have been committed and need to be investigated and surfaced.
What is the TRC in Korea?
Why was a Truth and Reconciliation Commission established in Korea?
On December 1, 2005, Korea's first TRC (TRC1) was established to investigate crimes committed during the Japanese occupation. Since then, the TRC has been utilized to investigate abuses such as labor camps, political repression, and forced and irregular international adoptions.
The purpose of Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commissions is to investigate human rights violations and abuses and work to uncover the truth, publish findings, and recommend reconciliation measures to the government.
How is the TRC related to Korean adoptees?
In 2022, the Danish Korean Rights Group (DKRG) first submitted 50 adoption cases from around the world to South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC2), not knowing if the topic of adoption would be accepted for investigation or considered a human rights violation. Cases and international adoption practices were accepted for investigation and continuously submitted from August 23, 2022 through December 9, 2022. The investigation ceased on April 23, 2025, largely due to a conservative government overseen by President Yoon Suk Yeol. On May 26, 2025, the TRC2 officially concluded, as its mandate naturally expired. It was subsequently found that human rights violations did indeed occur.
The TRC's mission of uncovering the truth and making recommendations now continues under a new president, as TRC3 opened for adoption cases on February 26, 2026. It will continue to accept new cases until February 25, 2028.
Where can I see a timeline of events for the TRC?
2005
December 1, 2005: TRC1 is launched to investigate war crimes during the Japanese occupation
2020
December 10, 2020: TRC2 is launched to address unresolved issues from TRC1 and investigate new violations
2022
August 23, 2022: Submission window opens for TRC cases; first 50 cases submitted to the TRC by DKRG
December 9, 2022: Submission window closed for overseas adoption investigations
2025
March 25th, 2025: Conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol's party, voted to defer the assessments of 42 adoptee cases, citing insufficient documentation
March 26th, 2025: Interim Report of TRC findings published, officially acknowledging state responsibility for human rights violations
April 23, 2025: Conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol suspends investigations, with only 56 of the 367 cases ruled upon
May 26, 2025: The investigative period for the TRC2 concludes by expiration deadline
June 4, 2025: Lee Jae-myung takes office as the President of South Korea
October 1, 2025: President Lee Jae-myung offers apology to adoptees, acknowledging Korea's stigma as a child exporter
November 14, 2025: The TRC publishes a final report confirming abuse in intercountry adoption and stating the Korean government's responsibility for abuses in the system
2026
January 29, 2026: Korean parliament approves establishment of TRC3 with new laws
February 26, 2026: TRC3 opens for new submissions
March 2, 2026: Song Sang-kyo is nominated to serve as the Chairperson of TRC3
June 24, 2026: Formation of the TRC3 concludes, as President Lee appoints 10 Truth and Reconciliation commissioners
What's the deal with TRC1 & TRC2?
How many TRCs have there been?
There have been two Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in history (and now a third with TRC3). The first Commission occurred between 2005 and 2010 and investigated civilian massacres, crimes during the Japanese occupation, and human rights abuses.
The Second Commission launched from 2020 to 2025 and further investigated human rights abuses, human trafficking, and fraudulent overseas adoptions. The findings and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concerning intercountry adoption can be found in the official report here.
The TRC's mission of uncovering the truth and making recommendations now continues, as TRC3 opened for adoption cases on February 26, 2026. It will continue to accept new cases until February 25, 2028.
What do adoptees who have submitted their cases say about the significance of TRC2?
Adoptees, researchers, and TRC-submitters Jennifer Kwon Dobbs and Ryan Gustaffson have both noted that TRCs are important because its investigations are nationally recognized, with its truths serving as a pathway for investigation and accountability. On a social level, the TRC represents Korea examining itself, viewing adoptees not just as outsiders, but a part of their history; Adoption is not just compartmentalized violence towards the adoptee, but also violence within families and Korean society on the whole.
As the initial cases were gathered and submitted, it was uncertain if the TRC would accept cases of this type. Submissions to the TRC investigation was a collective act of hope and teamwork from the KAD community, however, even as of 2026, it remains nebulous what form reconciliation may take.
Please listen to the full podcast from Adoptees United.
What has been revealed about adoption abuses so far?
Earlier TRC investigations documented serious irregularities in intercountry adoption, such as coerced relinquishment, falsified orphan status, inadequate consent from birth families, and poor oversight of adoption agencies — findings that forced official acknowledgment of human rights failures. Advocacy groups previously held rallies demanding fuller disclosure of the commission’s work and stronger government action, pointing out that many submitted cases still lack conclusions. The full Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report can be found here.
What have been the shortcomings of TRC2?
While considered historically groundbreaking and validating for individuals whose cases were ruled upon, the TRC2 has met significant criticism as being performative and limited in scope. 56 adoptee cases representing all 4 adoption agencies were finalized by TRC2 in 2025. The remaining 311 cases were suspended and therefore did not receive a ruling.
Anders Riel Müller, one of the 56 adoptees whose case was confirmed as a human rights violation in TRC2, stated, "[The TRC's] recommendations, while symbolically important, fall short of delivering meaningful justice. As we anticipate another round of TRC investigations, it is important to address some of the shortcomings of the first investigation." He went on to cite an overreliance on paperwork, exclusion of thousands of overseas adoptees, and lack of pathways to justice (among other things).
Another shortcoming of TRC2's findings has been the failure of the Korean government to provide concrete remedies for its wrongdoings. The UN and investigators have urged the Korean government to do more, stating they "wish to remind [Korea’s] Government of its obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Republic of Korea acceded to on 10 April 1990. In particular, article 2(3) of the Convention obliges States parties to ensure that individuals whose rights under the Covenant are violated have access to an effective remedy, determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, and that such remedies are enforced."
What steps are being taken by Korea toward reconciliation or reparations?
Korea has been criticized for not taking enough concrete steps towards reparations, however, with Lee Jae-Myung's apology and renewed support for adoptee truth-finding, adoptees are already seeing a few steps being taken:
December 26, 2025: Korea vows to end all international adoptions by 2029
January 29, 2026: Korean parliament approves establishment of TRC3 with new laws, including 3-year allowance for victims to sue after expiration of statutes of limitations
February 26, 2026: New TRC launched for existing and new adoption cases
April 9, 2026: South Korea’s justice minister Jung Sung-ho acknowledges “forced child trafficking” and states the Korean government will not appeal cases seeking government compensation
June 25, 2026: Chairperson Song Sang-gyu acknowledges victim frustrations, need for unprecedented compensation law, and preservation of investigation material and learnings for the betterment of society
What is TRC3?
Why the number three in "TRC3"?
There have been two completed Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in history. The first Commission occurred between 2005 and 2010 and investigated civilian massacres, crimes during the Japanese occupation, and human rights abuses. The Second Commission launched from 2020 to 2025 and further investigated human rights abuses, human trafficking, and fraudulent overseas adoptions.
TRC3 was created after TRC2's official mandate end date on May 26, 2025, to continue investigations, address the backlog of uninvestigated cases, and allow for new cases to be submitted.
How long will TRC3 run?
TRC3 opened for adoption cases on February 26, 2026, and will close on February 25, 2028. While the mandate is for 3 years, the Commission may extend the deadline and mandate for as many as five years.
How is the current TRC investigation (TRC3) into international adoption historically and politically significant?
According to a 2025 article from NewsTapa: "South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has confirmed some of the overseas adoption cases from the 1970s and 1980s as human rights violations and recommended the Korean government to officially apologize to its victims.
It is the first time for a government agency to recognize human rights violations in past overseas adoptions and acknowledge the state’s responsibility.
...The commission’s decision is significant as it officially acknowledges the human rights violations experienced by Korean-born overseas adoptees."
This is the first time in history overseas adoption has been recognized as a human rights violation, laying ground for worldwide change and for Korea to set precedence.
How will TRC3's investigation into adoption issues differ from TRC2?
Key differences have emerged between how TRC3 will be conducted versus TRC2.
At the end of January 2026, the National Assembly passed the Framework Act on Settling the Past for Truth and Reconciliation.
Changes to the law and how it affects adoptees are below, but the main differences between TRC2 and TRC3 is that
TRC3 inherited 2,100 unresolved cases, including 311 unresolved adoption cases moved forward from TRC2 to TRC3. As TRC2 has already established human rights violations were committed, per the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's inter-country adoption findings published in a 2025 report, submitters will not need to re-prove this.
The Commission's investigative powers are expanded, including authority to seek search warrants if individuals, government entities or private institutions refuse to provide evidence
Family members (such as descendents of adoptees) may apply for truth-finding
Submissions may be handed in over email or at an applicant's embassy
There will be more investigators
The Chairperson of the TRC, Song Sang-gyu, has already acknowledged a need for new laws
What's next for TRC3 and adoptees?
Formal individual reviews and wider systemic inquiries are expected to unfold over the coming months, as investigators are assigned to cases and findings emerge.
In addition to TRC3, TRC2 news coverage have placed increasing pressure on the Korean government, and the governments of receiving nations, to address structural abuses and provide remedies to victims. Many adoptees hope TRC3 will not only validate individual cases but also push for reconciliatory measures such as access to records, identity restoration, monetary compensation, better regulatory measures to prevent recurrence, and further legal and social recognition.
How can I get involved?
I am a Korean Adoptee; what steps can I take to start my submission?
Please collect your adoption documents from the following places and check them for new and/or conflicting information.
Your Adoptive Parents
Your American Adoption Agency
Adoption Information Disclosure through the National Center for the Rights of the Child (This step is not necessary, as TRC investigators will gain access to your records held by the Korean Government)
If you wish to push further in gaining information about your origins, DNA tests are recommended such as:
Finally, please consider taking one of our workshops or watching one of our tutorials to learn how to identify important documents, comb them for information, create a timeline and mark red flags which can be submitted with your TRC3 application. We also have guides about how to create a timeline and write a personal statement.
I am a Korean adoptee; How can I submit my case to TRC3?
TRC3 opened on February 26, 2026 and will remain open until February 25, 2028, examining unfinished cases and expanding the scope of investigation to new cases. Through our sister organization DKRG, USKRG submitted a historic amount of cases, along with other KRGs from around the world.
For more information on upcoming group submission, please join the USKRG's private Facebook group or refer to our TRC3 Information Hub.
I am not a Korean adoptee (but am a parent, spouse, friend, etc); How can I support a Korean adoptee in my life?
Allies can support their adoptees in many ways, including DNA testing, educating yourself about adoption issues, and, if you're a parent, giving your child their adoption documents. Read more about how you can support your adoptee here.
Where can I learn more about the TRC?
USKRG has compiled a list of links related to TRC3 here. You may also visit Korea's official Truth & Reconciliation website here.
