On October 26th, the Third Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was inaugurated in South Korea, beginning a new chapter in addressing historical injustices. The commission's opening was marked by the acceptance of truth investigation applications from victims, notably 311 overseas adoption survivors. Among the applications, many were from individuals affected by institutions like the Hyeongjeongbokwon and Dongmyeongwon, reflecting a broader spectrum of past injustices that the commission aims to address. Interestingly, the commission commenced its work without a designated chairperson as President Lee Jae-myung had yet to finalize appointments, but this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the applicants seeking justice.

One representative of the overseas adoption victims, Marit Kim, who was adopted to the Netherlands, expressed the emotional burden of the adoption process. She shared a poignant story of her birth mother, Kim Ji-mi, who had struggled with the pain of separation and lost her life tragically on what was also her birthday. Marit accused the adoption system of deliberately altering and erasing birth information, which not only stripped her mother of her rights but also left many adoptees like herself searching for their identities.

The demographics of the 311 applications reveal a significant interest in the truth among those from various countries, with Denmark leading the way with 118 applications. The high number from Denmark is attributed to the influential role of the Denmark-Korea Truth Recovery Group, which had previously initiated investigations into overseas adoption cases. This new round of applications suggests a pressing need to confront the painful legacies of South Korea's adoption policies and provide closure to the victims, indicating a growing recognition of their rights and the injustices faced during their adoptions.