Human Rights Commission "Recommendation to Guarantee Solo Protests Near Diplomatic Missions Rejected by Police"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 20th that the police have effectively rejected its recommendation to guarantee one-person protests near diplomatic missions.

The Commission judged that restricting one-person protests and imposing excessive sanctions even at diplomatic missions constitutes a human rights violation. In August last year, it recommended the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief to issue a written warning to the relevant police officers, conduct job training for security police officers, and prepare measures to guarantee one-person protests near diplomatic missions.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency replied that instead of issuing written warnings to police officers, it conducted job training related to human rights and law, and for security police officers near diplomatic missions, it provided job training on 'legal enforcement grounds and procedures against protesters, standards and limits of physical force application.' The Police Agency stated, “We will carry out law enforcement in accordance with laws and principles, observing due process and proportionality, within the scope that does not hinder the special protection obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

The Commission found it difficult to see this response as acceptance of its recommendation. It stated, "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arbitrarily interpreted the intent of the recommendation and did not properly implement it," and added, "Since the Police Agency intends to maintain its current policy on one-person protests, we judge that it has rejected the Commission’s recommendation."