On Monday, February 24, at 10:30 a.m., the "Is it Okay as It Is? Calls for Normalization of the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea (NHRCK)" Conference was held in the National Assembly's 6th Conference Room. At the event, the Korean Council criticized the NHRCK’s history of anti-human rights abuses and called for much-needed reforms.
During the presentation, the Korean Council highlighted critical cases of human rights violations. These included the Wednesday Demonstration, cases of military human rights abuses represented by Attorney Kim Borami, legal representative of the bereaved family, and the Itaewon Traedy presented by Kim Nam-hee, the bereaved family member of the late Shin Ae-jin.
These three cases shared key commonalities:
The judgments from the NHRCK failed to protect the victims and, instead, left them to face ongoing discrimination and hatred.
The NHRCK’s judgments did not adhere to established procedures, undermining the credibility and integrity of their rulings.
The violations were largely attributed to the actions of certain commissioners, particularly Kim Yong-won, whose involvement in the cases was a point of contention.
Following the case presentations, a discussion started about the necessary steps to reform the NHRCK. The focus was on transforming the Commission into a valid check on the state that upholds universal human rights rather than an entity that serves the interests of those in power. Participants in the discussion called for immediate actions, including responding to the GANHRI special review, reforming the NHRCK’s operational systems, overhauling the appointment process for National Human Rights Commissioners, and ensuring greater accountability to civil society.
The discussion, though brief, was active and constructive, offering a roadmap for future legislative actions. The event concluded with a renewed commitment to push for more specific legislative reforms and institutional improvements, hoping these changes would lead to a more just and accountable NHRCK.
On Monday, February 24, at 10:30 a.m., the "Is it Okay as It Is? Calls for Normalization of the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea (NHRCK)" Conference was held in the National Assembly's 6th Conference Room. At the event, the Korean Council criticized the NHRCK’s history of anti-human rights abuses and called for much-needed reforms.
During the presentation, the Korean Council highlighted critical cases of human rights violations. These included the Wednesday Demonstration, cases of military human rights abuses represented by Attorney Kim Borami, legal representative of the bereaved family, and the Itaewon Traedy presented by Kim Nam-hee, the bereaved family member of the late Shin Ae-jin.
These three cases shared key commonalities:
The judgments from the NHRCK failed to protect the victims and, instead, left them to face ongoing discrimination and hatred.
The NHRCK’s judgments did not adhere to established procedures, undermining the credibility and integrity of their rulings.
The violations were largely attributed to the actions of certain commissioners, particularly Kim Yong-won, whose involvement in the cases was a point of contention.
Following the case presentations, a discussion started about the necessary steps to reform the NHRCK. The focus was on transforming the Commission into a valid check on the state that upholds universal human rights rather than an entity that serves the interests of those in power. Participants in the discussion called for immediate actions, including responding to the GANHRI special review, reforming the NHRCK’s operational systems, overhauling the appointment process for National Human Rights Commissioners, and ensuring greater accountability to civil society.
The discussion, though brief, was active and constructive, offering a roadmap for future legislative actions. The event concluded with a renewed commitment to push for more specific legislative reforms and institutional improvements, hoping these changes would lead to a more just and accountable NHRCK.