DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

All NHRC departments demand chairperson's resignation

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • All 30 departments within South Korea's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are now demanding the resignation of its chairperson, Ahn Chang-ho.
  • The collective demand follows a series of internal protests and resignations of mid-level officials since early May.
  • Staff cite a loss of trust and damage to the NHRC's independence and credibility following a controversial decision last year regarding a presidential defense matter.

A widespread internal revolt has engulfed South Korea's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with all 30 departments now publicly calling for the resignation of Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho. The latest department to join the chorus is the Human Rights Education and Operations Division, whose staff posted a message on the internal network on Tuesday demanding Ahn's "departure to our respective places."

In this situation where the unprecedented resignation of section chiefs is continuing and posts demanding the chairman's retirement are pouring in by department name, the fact that the chairman has lost the trust of the organization is an undeniable reality.

— NHRC Human Rights Education and Operations Division staffin a statement posted on the internal network demanding Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho's resignation.

This unified demand marks the culmination of escalating internal dissent that began on May 8th with the Planning and Finance Division and the Discrimination Correction Division. Since then, mid-level managers have resigned from their posts, and numerous departments have issued statements urging Ahn to step down. The Human Rights Education and Operations Division stated that Ahn has lost the trust of the organization, asserting, "Your place is no longer the NHRC."

Your place is no longer the NHRC.

— NHRC Human Rights Education and Operations Division staffin a statement posted on the internal network demanding Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho's resignation.

NHRC staff attribute the crisis to a perceived erosion of the commission's independence and neutrality since a controversial resolution passed in February last year. This resolution concerned guaranteeing the defense rights of then-President Yoon Suk-yeol in a constitutional court case. The staff feel this decision undermined their pride as human rights advocates.

The chairman's voluntary retirement is the first step to restoring the collapsed trust of the Human Rights Commission and setting the committee straight again.

— NHRC Human Rights Education and Operations Division staffin a statement posted on the internal network demanding Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho's resignation.

Further fanning the flames, Ahn reportedly postponed a motion to reconsider and abolish the controversial resolution on June 13th. This move intensified the backlash, with the National Public Officials Union's NHRC chapter criticizing Ahn for allegedly prioritizing "specific forces of rebellion" while claiming to protect everyone's human rights. Amidst the ongoing turmoil, calls are mounting for President Yoon to intervene and restore normalcy to the commission.

Chairman Ahn has tried to give special treatment only to specific forces of rebellion while claiming to protect the human rights of all people.

— National Public Officials Union NHRC Chapterin a statement criticizing Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho's actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog