NCRC Labor Commission + Anti Corruption & Civil Rights Commission Complaint

The NCRC’s own archival specialist (“AS”) filed a complaint at the Labor Commission for workplace harassment (January 26th, 2026)
The Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission started their investigation into the NCRC for allegations of conflict of interest and research ethics violations (February 3rd, 2026)

On October 13, 2025, the NCRC announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Archive of Korea.
In order for adoption files (currently held at the temporary facility in Goyang) to be transferred to the Seongnam Branch of the National Archive, they must be disinfected.
Two disinfection options being considered are ethylene oxide and gamma rays.

On January 26th, 2026, The NCRC’s own archival specialist (“AS”) filed a complaint at the Labor Commission for workplace harassment.
An order was given to use ethylene oxide gas to disinfect the files, despite warnings by “AS”.
- Ethylene oxide can damage film photos, and thermal paper.
“AS” was subsequently side-lined from internal meetings and team members were directed to file a complaint case against them for “AS’s” protest.
An external consultant (“EC”) was head of a research project investigating the use of gamma rays (November 2025).
“AS” said, “The authorities must clearly investigate whether the project was pushed through recklessly despite the anticipated risk of permanent damage to nationally important records.”
On February 3rd, 2026 the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission started an investigation into the NCRC for allegations of conflict of interest and research ethics violations filed by “AS”.

On February 3rd, 2026, Chung Ick-Joong (Head of the NCRC) held his New Year’s Press Conference.
There was no mention of plans for a permanent archive or on the complete integration of all adoption records (orphanages, agencies, hospitals etc.)
Chung Ick-Joong emphasized claims that disinfection will be done safely and that they are in the midst of expert consultation but that no final decision has been made.

[E-Daily] “Adoption Records Are Being Tampered With”: Bullying Began After a Whistleblower Report… Complaint Filed with the Labor Office”
- “At the press conference that day, Kim Eun-jin, a lawyer at the Women’s Labor and Legal Support Center, explained, “Adoption records are crucial original documents that allow adoptees to trace their roots, yet the expert who sought to protect them was instead isolated by the organization,” adding, “This is a case where a public institution, far from protecting a whistleblower, shifted the blame onto them.””