Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago

Notification on the application for truth-finding in accordance with the Framework Act on Settling the past for Truth and Reconciliation

The Framework Act on Settling the past for Truth and Reconciliation

underwent a comprehensive revision with the goal of reconciling with the

past and moving forward towards strengthened national unity by clarifying

the distorted or concealed truth behinds past events.

Thus, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the Republic of Korea

receives the application for truth-finding in accordance with the article 22

of the Framework Act from February 26, 2026.

February 26, 2026

Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation

 Commission of the Republic of Korea

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1. Application period : February 26, 2026 – February 25, 2028

2. The scope of truth-finding(prescribed in Article 2 of the Framework Act)

  ○ Independence movement against Imperial Japan which had been carried out during the Japanese occupation or immediately prior to that period.

  ○ History of overseas Koreans who have defended the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea and extended its national power after the Japanese occupation until the enforcement date of the Framework act. (No. 7542)

  ○ Cases of mass Civilian deaths, injuries, or missing which occurred unlawfully from August 15, 1945 to the period prior to, during, and immediately after the Korean war.

  ○ Cases of deaths, injuries, or missing which occurred as a result of unlawful or seriously unjust exercise of  governmental power, such as acts of destruction of the constitutional order, and other cases of grave human right violations and allegedly fabricated cases from August 15, 1945 to the foundation of The National Human Rights Commission(November 25, 2001).

  ○ Acts of terrorism, human right abuses, violence, massacres, and suspicious deaths committed by forces which deny the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea or the hostile to the Republic of Korea from August 15, 1945 to the period of authoritarian rule.

     ※ With the exception of the cases already being processed in accordance with the other acts

  ○ Human right abuses committed by social welfare facilities, intercountry adoption agencies, and mass detention facilities2) run or supervised by the central or local government from August 15, 1945 to the foundation of The National Human Rights Commission(November 25, 2001).

     ✓ Even among the cases falling under the scope of clarifying the truth provided above

        - Those on which a court has made a final judgement shall be excluded.

        - Provided, That the same shall not apply where clarifying the truth is deemed necessary because it falls under any ground for a retrial under the Civil procedure Act or the Criminal procedure

3. Qualification for application

  ○ A victim, his or her bereaved family or relative

  ○ Any person with knowledge of particular facts about a case subject to clarifying the truth

4. Methods of filing application

  ○ An application shall be filed in writing. An applicant shall file the application via mail or in-person(An applicant can visit the Consulates in your country and submit an application in-person.)

     - Mailing Address: 455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr., Suite 2700, Chicago, IL 60611

     - Korean Consulate General in Chicago jurisdiction states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Provided, That where special circumstances exist that make it impracticable to file an application in writing, the application may be filed orally.

     - An applicant can download an application form from website of Korean embassy or Consulates.

     ※ When an application is received, a receipt of application will be provided.

Notes on the Use of the English Application Form

* The English application form submitted to overseas missions is provided for reference purposes only and does not have legal validity as an official document.

* If an applicant (e.g., overseas adoptees) has difficulty completing the form in Korean, the applicant may complete the English form with the required information. In such cases, the Korean application form may be submitted without completing the content section, provided that the applicant’s signature or seal is affixed.

* In principle, both the Korean application form (including signature) and the completed English application form should be submitted together. However, if it is not possible to sign the Korean application form, submission of the completed English application form alone will be accepted.

For related inquiries, please contact the Preparatory Planning Team for the Launch of the 3rd Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Information Desk) at +82-2-3393-9735.

5. Additional documents needed for an application

  ○ (Applicant)

     a copy of ID or passport (mandatory)

  ○ (If an applicant is represented by someone)

     designation of representatives

  ○ (If an applicant has one) Documents related to an application case

     ※ e.g. : adoption documents

☞ Contacts

○ The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the Republic of Korea

     - address : (04554) 5 Floor, Namsan Square Building, 173 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu Seoul, Korea

     - telephone : +82 (02)3393-9700 / 9701