What happens when a truth commission reopens wounds instead of healing them
JINCHEON, South Chungcheong Province — Baek Nam-sik, 76, was not yet two years old when his father and uncle vanished. Today, his only memories of them are a few fading photographs. His father, Baek Nak-yong, was taken from their home at the outset of the Korean War in 1950. Days later, his uncle, Baek Rak-jeong, disappeared while searching for him. Nearly 75 years have passed since June 27, 1950, when Baek’s father was dragged away. Yet his son’s struggle for justice continues. The Baek family’s story reveals how institutions meant to deliver justice and restore honor can instead become sources of betrayal and renewed trauma, especially in a divided society where deceased victims are still at risk of being classified as enemies of the state. After the disappearance Born in 1911, Baek Rak-yong worked as a reporter for the Dong-A Ilbo in Seoul. He was offered the post of county magistrate in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province, prior to the war, but declined the position and opened a local branch office of the paper. For Baek Nam-sik, learning about his father was never easy. At t
May 9, 2025By Jack Greenberg
