Veteran of South Korea's truth commission sees 'mission to be accomplished' in new term
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
Interview
Named sources
Context piece
- Park Young-il, a veteran member of South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), reflects on his experiences with the first two commissions as 'shock' and 'shock and confusion.'
- He now views his role in the third commission, which began operations recently, as a 'mission to be accomplished.'
- Park, who has a personal history of state violence, emphasizes the importance of reporting even minor instances of illegal detention to foster national awareness.
For Park Young-il, a seasoned public relations specialist at South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the journey through its various iterations has been marked by profound emotional and professional shifts. He describes the first commission (2005-2010) as a "great shock," particularly upon witnessing the scale of mass graves from the Korean War and the human remains unearthed at sites like Kobalt Mine. The sheer devastation left a lasting impression.
Even if you weren't imprisoned for a long time, if you were illegally detained by state power for just 3-4 days, apply to the commission.
The second commission (2020-2025) brought "shock and confusion." While it broadened the scope of reconciliation to include human rights abuses against vulnerable populations, such as those at the Brothers Home and Seosan Agricultural Reformatory, it also faced internal turmoil. Park recalls protests and arrests of victims' families and notes a perceived "excessive partisanship" within the commission, which complicated his role in public relations.
The first TRC (2005-2010) was truly a great shock.
Now embarking on his third term with the newly launched commission, Park views his involvement as a "mission to be accomplished." His personal history, including participation in the 1986 Gunguk University protests and subsequent imprisonment, fuels his commitment. He was officially recognized as a victim of illegal detention for his role in the Gunguk University incident and is pursuing a retrial.
The second TRC (2020-2025) was shock, plus confusion.
Park urges individuals who experienced even brief periods of illegal detention by state authorities to come forward. "Even if you weren't imprisoned for a long time, if you were illegally detained by state power for just 3-4 days, apply to the commission," he stated. He believes such reporting is essential to instill a national awareness that even minor abuses of power are unacceptable.
Now, the third commission is a mission to be accomplished.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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