Truth & Reconciliation FAQ
- USKRG
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Last Updated February 2026. Please check back as USKRG will update our FAQ regularly.
What is the history of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Korea?
From the Truth & Reconciliation website: "The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established as an independent body to investigate and uncover the truth about the anti-Japanese independence movement, overseas Koreans, mass atrocities during the Korean War, various human rights violations that occurred during Korea’s authoritarian rule and killings by hostile forces."
What is TRC and what is happening now?
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Korea investigates historical human rights abuses, including forced and irregular international adoptions from the 1960s through the 1990s. It works to uncover the truth, publish findings, and recommend reconciliation measures to the government.
That work now continues under a newly established third commission (TRC3). Recent legislative revisions clearing the way for TRC3 show renewed government commitment to investigating unresolved adoption cases and systemic issues that previous TRCs could not fully address. Overseas adoptees and advocates have welcomed this as “truth‑finding, identity restoration, and reparative justice in action.”
What happened with TRC1 & TRC2?
56 adoptee cases representing all 4 adoption agencies were finalized by TRC1 and TRC2. The remaining 311 cases were suspended and therefore did not receive a ruling. It is thought they will be investigated during TCR3. The findings and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission can be found in the report here.
What do adoptees who submitted their cases say about the significance of TRC1 & TRC 2?
Adoptees, researchers, and TRC-submitters Jennifer Kwon Dobbs and Ryan Gustaffson have both noted that TRC is 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 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, 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 determinations. You can read the full Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report here.
Why was TRC3 created?
The previous TRC (TRC2) acknowledged adoption abuses in a 2025 report but had limited time and scope, formally recognizing only a subset of submitted cases. Many adoptee cases — over 300 — remained unresolved when that commission’s mandate ended in late 2025. TRC3 was created to continue investigations and address that backlog as well as allow for new cases to be submitted.
How will TRC3 be different from past TRCs?
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 are as follows:
What’s next for TRC3 and adoptees?
TRC3 is scheduled to launch on Feb. 26, 2026, and will take over unfinished cases and expand the scope of investigation. Formal individual reviews and wider systemic inquiries are expected to unfold over the coming months. Many adoptees hope TRC3 will not only validate more individual cases but also push for measures such as access to records, identity restoration, official apologies, and further legal recognition.
What do adoptees and advocacy groups say now?
Many adoptees express both hope and caution. While recent findings and the launch of TRC3 are seen as meaningful steps toward accountability, some note that previous reports offered symbolic recognition without comprehensive justice, leaving unresolved cases and broader systemic harms to still be addressed. International adoptee advocates have underscored the importance of continuity following TRC2, emphasizing that TRC3 can provide resolution for cases that were left incomplete and expand investigations into wider systemic violations.
What do recent reports suggest about systemic reform?
News coverage from earlier reports and related policy shifts has shown growing pressure on the Korean government to address structural abuses in its historical foreign adoption system. These have included calls for improved oversight, official apologies, and systemic reforms to prevent future violations, though the implementation of recommendations remains in progress.
What steps can I take to get a head start on 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
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.
I am a Korean adoptee. How can I submit my case to TRC3?
TRC3 is scheduled to launch on Feb. 26, 2026, and will take over unfinished cases and expand the scope of investigation to new cases. Please join the USKRG's private Facebook group for more information.
