Human Rights Commission Urges Restraint on Hate Speech During Local Election Campaigns

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has urged restraint in the use of hate speech during the official election campaign for the 8th nationwide local elections starting on the 19th.

On the 18th, the NHRCK issued a statement in the name of Chairman Song Doo-hwan, stating, "We strongly request that all political parties, candidates, and campaign workers refrain from using hate speech in the 8th local elections so that this election can become a democratic public forum." The commission noted, "Hate speech tends to be most concentrated during election periods when politicians' interests sharply collide," adding, "Hate speech by politicians has a more direct effect on the targets and is rapidly reproduced, resulting in significant social ripple effects."

In a review of the status of 'hate speech reports by politicians' in 54 newspapers and broadcasting media outlets from January to March this year, ahead of the 20th presidential election, the NHRCK found 3,351 reports of misogynistic hate speech, 39 reports targeting persons with disabilities, and 96 reports targeting migrants. The commission pointed out that most of these reports used politicians' statements based on negative stereotypes and prejudices against women, persons with disabilities, and migrants as they were. The NHRCK further explained, "Hate speech not only infringes on the human rights of members of the targeted groups but also distorts the public discourse, undermining democracy and hindering integration into an inclusive society."

Previously, in 2019, the NHRCK expressed the need to prevent and correct hate speech by politicians. Ahead of the 21st National Assembly election in March 2020, the chairman proposed through a statement to make it "the inaugural year of elections free from hate speech."