Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Overseas adoptees protest early end to truth inquiry
Overseas adoptees and civic groups hold a press conference near the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) office in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday, demanding the commission disclose all findings from its investigation into human rights violations in overseas adoptions before the commission's term ends in May. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
Political conflict blocks path to answers for Korean adoptees
Overseas adoptees on Thursday voiced outrage over the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) plan to wrap up its ongoing investigation into human rights violations in Korea’s past overseas adoptions, as the commission’s term is set to expire May 26.
The adoptees, who submitted their cases to the TRC in November 2022, urged the government to establish a third TRC if the current second commission, which began in 2020, fails to complete its work by the deadline.
Among the total 367 cases filed, only 56 were identified as involving human rights violations and government responsibility, in the commission’s first announcement on March 26. It is unlikely that all of the pending 311 cases will be resolved before the May 26 deadline.
"We are concerned that there will not be enough time to conclude the remaining cases. If all 367 adoptees cannot receive an answer within the current mandate, then a third TRC must be established as soon as possible,” Peter Moller, a Danish adoptee who heads the Danish Korean Adoptee Group, said during a press conference in front of the TRC’s office.
The press conference was jointly organized by 13 adoptee groups representing 11 countries, including Norway, Denmark, the United States, France and Australia.
A TRC official told The Korea Times that the commission is "making every effort to disclose the results of as many cases as possible before the term ends," but declined to comment on how many can be processed this month. He added that any cases not concluded by the deadline will automatically be discarded.
The TRC is an independent government body established to investigate past human rights violations, particularly those committed under authoritarian regimes.
Extending the TRC’s term requires legislative approval. The commission’s Chairperson Park Sun-young had called for an extension, but the National Assembly failed to act due to partisan gridlock.
Park Sun-young, chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, March 26, announcing the initial results of a probe into human rights violations in past overseas adoptions. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Opposition parties have refused to extend the commission's term, citing concerns over Park's qualifications and the timing of her appointment.
Park was named to lead the commission by now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 6, just three days after Yoon declared martial law — a move that ultimately led to his removal from office.
Her appointment sparked immediate backlash from opposition lawmakers and even some TRC staff members, as she had previously drawn criticism for remarks defending former President Park Chung-hee, a military general who seized power through a coup and ruled Korea from 1961 to 1979.
The conservative People Power Party (PPP) defended Park’s appointment, criticizing the majority-holding liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for blocking the TRC's term extension for political reasons.
After the Assembly’s failure to renew the TRC’s mandate, overseas adoptees are now demanding the launch of a third commission.
“We are collectively calling for a third Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its investigation to expand and include more cases upon these initial findings,” Ben Coz, an adoptee from the U.S., said during the press conference.
However, establishing a third TRC also appears unlikely in the near term, as it would require approval from the president and the appointment of eight commissioners by the Assembly — a lengthy process, particularly with Korea set to hold a snap presidential election on June 3.
"We plan to take this issue to the Assembly and political parties to ensure that the next president can reflect this agenda," Moller said.
Overseas adoptees and civic groups hold a press conference near the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's office in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday, demanding the commission disclose all findings from its investigation into human rights violations in overseas adoptions before the commission's term ends in May. Yonhap
Beyond concerns over the TRC’s looming deadline, adoptees have also expressed frustration with the commission’s decision to drop some cases due to a lack of evidence of human rights violations.
According to TRC officials, nearly 100 cases were initially brought before the panel for review before the March 26 announcement, but some commissioners viewed that the lack of documents made it impossible to confirm whether violations had occurred. This resulted in only 56 cases being approved so far.
Adoptees argued that the responsibility to provide evidence lies with the government, and blamed poor government oversight for the lack of evidence resulting from the improper storage of adoption documents.
“Enough with forcing adoptees to shoulder the burden of proving the illegality of their own adoptions,” said Vigdis Eckhardt, an adoptee from Norway. "Responsibility to prove that an adoption was illegal and unethical lies with the state, not with the adoptees."