Regarding the Resolution to Guarantee Yoon's Right to Defense... Opposing Committee Members "Urge Human Rights Committee Chair to Resign"

Procedural Issues Raised in Plenary Committee
NHRCK Staff Also Express 'Condemnation'

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRCK) passed a resolution calling for the guarantee of President Yoon Seok-yeol's right to defense in the impeachment trial, while human rights commissioners opposing the resolution demanded the resignation of Chairman Ahn Chang-ho.

Won Min-kyung (from left), Non-standing Commissioner, Nam Gyu-seon, Standing Commissioner, and So Ra-mi, Non-standing Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, are holding a press conference on the afternoon of the 11th at the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Young-chan

On the 11th, Nam Gyu-seon, a standing commissioner of the NHRCK, along with non-standing commissioners Won Min-kyung and So Ra-mi, held an emergency press conference at the NHRCK in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "The chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, who led the resolution, has lost his qualifications as a human rights commissioner by participating in this anti-human rights decision, and we urge him to resign."

Standing Commissioner Nam said, "Until now, as a commissioner, I believed I should speak through official statements or at standing or plenary committee meetings, so I have never held a press conference like this before," adding, "Yesterday’s resolution was very wrong, so I could not remain silent today."

They pointed out procedural issues in the plenary committee meeting. Non-standing Commissioner So explained, "During the procedural process, I have doubts about whether it was unfair that the majority of commissioners in favor persistently confirmed Commissioner Kang Jeong-hye’s intention and pressured her for an answer," and added, "Originally, agenda items decided by the plenary committee should be submitted with the prior consent of at least two commissioners, after which the chairman determines whether to put it on the agenda and materials are received in advance, but none of these procedures were followed."

On the same day, NHRCK staff also issued an appeal, criticizing, "We condemn the human rights commissioners who defend President Yoon’s unconstitutional declaration of emergency martial law and are preoccupied with protecting the president."