On February 10, 1951, during the height of the Korean War, a tragic massacre took place in Sinwon-myeon, Geochang County, South Gyeongsang Province, where the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army killed more than 700 innocent civilians.
At that time, guerrilla (partisan) activities were widespread in the Jirisan area. The 1st Battalion of the 25th Regiment, 3rd Division of the ROK Army, conducted a counterinsurgency operation under the pretext of eliminating guerrillas. In the process, they forcibly gathered the residents of Sinwon-myeon, accused them of collaborating with the insurgents, and massacred over 700 people. Among the victims were many older adults, women, and children, all of whom were innocent civilians.
Immediately after the incident, the South Korean government attempted to cover it up. However, the truth was exposed through an on-site investigation by a National Assembly fact-finding team and reports by some media outlets. As a result of the National Assembly’s investigation, the full extent of the incident was revealed, leading to the resignations of the Ministers of the Interior, Justice, and National Defense. The key perpetrators—Kim Jong Won, Oh Ik Kyung, Han Dong Seok, and Lee Jong Bae—were court-martialed and sentenced to prison. However, they were all released shortly thereafter through a special pardon.
In 2000, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established, and efforts to uncover the truth about the Geochang Massacre resumed. In 2004, the commission officially confirmed that between February 10 and March 8, 1951, during a military operation in Sinwon-myeon, Geochang County, the 1st Battalion of the 25th Regiment, 3rd Division of the ROK Army mistakenly identified 719 civilians as insurgents and carried out a mass execution.
Based on testimonies from victims’ families and historical records, the commission conducted an investigation and recommended that the government issue an apology and provide compensation. In October 2021, then-Prime Minister Kim Boo Kyum, on the 70th anniversary of the Geochang Massacre, issued an official apology, stating, “I bow my head in apology for this horrific atrocity committed by the South Korean military.”
The Geochang Massacre remains a tragic reminder of the horrors of war and the consequences of government overreach. This incident underscores the importance of truth-seeking efforts regarding historical injustices and highlights the enduring value of human rights.