(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Aug. 3)

Human rights in Korea

The Asian Human Rights Commission has requested that the International
Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Protection of Human
Rights review the status of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea
(NHRCK).

The request by the regional NGO monitoring and lobbying human rights in
Asia is yet another blow to the NHRCK, which has been experiencing difficulties
in recent months.
The AHRC based its request to downgrade the NHRCK's "A" accreditation status -
which it has held since 2004 - to "B" on claims that the Korean rights commission
no longer complies with the Principles Relating to the Status of National
Institution on Human Rights, also known as the Paris Principles, and that the
independence of the body has suffered a serious setback. The Paris Principles is
a U.N.-endorsed standard that requires national human rights institutions to be
independent, have pluralist representation, and have powers to investigate. Only
national commissions with "A" status have voting rights in the ICC.
A day before the AHRC requested the downgrading of the NHRCK, the Korean rights
body withdrew its bid for the rotating ICC chairmanship, cognizant of the
possibility that Hyun Byung-chul, its new head, may fail to be appointed because
of his lack of expertise in human rights field.
In fact, this was a problem that was widely foreseen when Hyun, a law scholar and
chancellor of Hanyang Cyber University, was appointed NHRCK head last month.
Human rights groups in Korea have been critical of the appointment because of
Hyun' lack of experience in the human rights field.
An argument could be made that those opposed to Hyun's appointment - both within
the commission and outside - caused an international embarrassment for the
country. Several civic groups are known to have voiced their opposition to the
appointment of Hyun and NHRCK's running for ICC chairmanship to the ICC.
However, it should be remembered that human rights are universally values, and
their pursuit and protection should be above and beyond national pride or
prestige. What is more important than the current embarrassment is the
possibility that human rights in Korea may be deteriorating.
The Lee Myung-bak administration has attempted to bring the human rights
commission under the direct control of the president, an attempt which failed.
The administration has also carried out a 20 percent cut in the commission's
personnel. In fact, Hyun's predecessor Ahn Kyong-hwan stepped down in June amid
an escalating conflict over the downsizing of the rights commission.
Korea has come a long way from the days when human rights abuses were rampant.
Since its establishment in 2001, the NHRCK has played a leading role in
protecting human rights. In fact, HRCK was considered an exemplary case. Today,
however, international groups are expressing concerns over threats to its
independence.
The ICC chairmanship would have been an opportunity to take the human rights
movement in Korea to the next level. By creating a situation where the NHRCK had
very little choice but to withdraw its bid, the Lee administration has done
another disservice to the cause of human rights in Korea.
(END)