Democratic Party Uncooperative in Implementing North Korea Human Rights Act
Delays in Recommending Directors for North Korea Human Rights Foundation
Hanbyun: "Denial of Democracy and Universal Values"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Pro-North Korean human rights organizations have called for the dissolution of the Democratic Party of Korea, which has effectively rendered the North Korean Human Rights Act obsolete. This is because the party has not recommended any candidates for the board of directors of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, a key institution under the law, for seven years.
The Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (Hanbyun), the North Korean Human Rights Association, and the Citizens' Group for the Proper North Korean Human Rights Act stated in a press release distributed on the 1st, "The North Korean Human Rights Act, enacted in 2016, has now been in effect for seven years, but the Democratic Party has continuously failed to recommend its five board members out of the twelve directors of the North Korean Human Rights Foundation, a core organization."
They added, "Refusing to implement a law enacted without a single opposing vote from lawmakers for seven years denies parliamentary democracy and universal human values," and raised their voices, saying, "The Democratic Party, which thoroughly ignores the pain of 25 million North Korean compatriots, should either change its name or disband."
The government is required to establish the North Korean Human Rights Foundation under the North Korean Human Rights Act. This is to investigate the human rights situation in North Korea and to conduct related research and policy development. The foundation must have up to 12 directors, including the chairman, and among the candidates, two are to be recommended by the Ministry of Unification, while the remaining ten are to be equally recommended by the ruling and opposition parties.
In September of last year, the Ministry of Unification recommended Professor Lee Jung-hoon of Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Studies and Kim Beom-su, head of the non-profit organization SaveNK, as government nominees. The People Power Party also submitted five director candidates to the National Assembly Secretariat. In contrast, the Democratic Party has only stated that it is "in internal discussions" and has not recommended any candidates.
Hanbyun and others sent two certified letters urging Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, to recommend directors in October and November of last year. Subsequently, on the 20th of last month, Hanbyun Honorary Chairman Kim Tae-hoon and others filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court against National Assembly Secretary-General Lee Kwang-jae and Floor Leader Park Hong-geun to confirm the illegality of their inaction.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification doubled its budget for promoting North Korean human rights from 1.996 billion KRW last year to 4.08 billion KRW this year. The newly secured approximately 2 billion KRW is planned to support activities at the private sector level. Additionally, the ministry plans to persuade the National Assembly and seek active cooperation to launch the foundation.
An official from the Ministry of Unification explained, "We will closely communicate and cooperate with the National Assembly regarding the effects of establishing the foundation on improving North Korean human rights," and added, "Until the foundation is launched, we plan to support human rights promotion efforts by forming a North Korean Human Rights Foundation preparation team and a preparatory committee (tentative name)."
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