Attorney Ji Youngjun, Recommended by People Power Party, Withdraws Candidacy for NHRCK Commissioner

Attorney Ji Youngjun, who was recommended by the People Power Party as a candidate for the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), resigned from his candidacy on July 29 following controversy over far-right views.

On this day, Ji held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center and announced his intention to step down.

Attorney Ji Youngjun. Screenshot from the National Assembly Policy Video Platform

Previously, on July 17, the People Power Party recommended Ji as the successor to former standing commissioner Lee Choongsang.

However, controversy over far-right views intensified after it was revealed that Ji had run as a proportional representative candidate for the Christian Liberty Unification Party (now the Liberty Unification Party) in the 21st general election, and that he had previously opposed human rights policies such as the anti-discrimination law.

In response, Ji explained on this day that he had never hated or discriminated against sexual minorities and that he had been active for a considerable period in the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, a progressive lawyers' association.

Attorney Park Hyungmyung, who was also recommended by the People Power Party as an NHRCK commissioner along with Ji, was similarly embroiled in controversy over far-right views. On July 23, both ruling and opposition parties decided not to submit the appointment proposals for the two candidates to the National Assembly plenary session.