On Monday, May 26, the Korean Council participated in a press conference organized by the Joint Action to Correct NHRCK, held in front of the NHRCK headquarters. The participants demanded the immediate disclosure of the Commission’s draft response to the upcoming special review by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and urged the Commission to submit a response that properly acknowledges its past failings.
The NHRCK is scheduled to undergo a special review during the 46th Session of GANHRI’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation in October 2025. IGOs will review the NHRCK's reputation for its action, which condones insurrection, discrimination, hate, and human rights violations under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
GANHRI requested that the NHRCK submit its written response to the special review by June 1. However, the drafting and review process has been conducted confidentially, another sign of the Commission's regression from transparency and accountability. According to media reports, the draft response omits or minimizes facts unfavorable to the NHRCK and fails to address the Commission’s responsibility to defend democracy and human rights during critical moments.
Most concerningly, NHRCK Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho bypassed discussions at the Standing Committee and unilaterally referred the discussions as a confidential agenda on May 26. The Joint Action strongly demanded that the Commission reverse its decision to designate the issue as confidential and instead disclose the process to the public, engaging with voices from the human rights and civil society community.
A Banghak activist from the Korean Council criticized the NHRCK’s failure to protect the Wednesday Demonstration under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, calling it a human rights–violating act of negligence.
Following the press conference, members of the Joint Action submitted the press statement directly to the Commission as a formal complaint, continuing their action to demand reform and transparency.
The NHRCK is scheduled to undergo a special review during the 46th Session of GANHRI’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation in October 2025. IGOs will review the NHRCK's reputation for its action, which condones insurrection, discrimination, hate, and human rights violations under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
GANHRI requested that the NHRCK submit its written response to the special review by June 1. However, the drafting and review process has been conducted confidentially, another sign of the Commission's regression from transparency and accountability. According to media reports, the draft response omits or minimizes facts unfavorable to the NHRCK and fails to address the Commission’s responsibility to defend democracy and human rights during critical moments.
Most concerningly, NHRCK Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho bypassed discussions at the Standing Committee and unilaterally referred the discussions as a confidential agenda on May 26. The Joint Action strongly demanded that the Commission reverse its decision to designate the issue as confidential and instead disclose the process to the public, engaging with voices from the human rights and civil society community.
A Banghak activist from the Korean Council criticized the NHRCK’s failure to protect the Wednesday Demonstration under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, calling it a human rights–violating act of negligence.
Following the press conference, members of the Joint Action submitted the press statement directly to the Commission as a formal complaint, continuing their action to demand reform and transparency.