NHRCK employee petitions commission over workload, discrimination

An employee of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has filed a petition against the commission, alleging discrimination due to an excessive workload and the marginalization of his specific job series. This unusual situation involves an internal staff member lodging a complaint with the very institution tasked with protecting human rights.

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The NHRCK shows prompt responses to the work grievances of other job series, but it does not show a willingness to improve the work burden of the records research job.

The records researcher, identified only by his surname Yoon, claims that while the NHRCK promptly addresses grievances from other job series, it has shown no willingness to improve the burdensome tasks assigned to records researchers. He argues this constitutes discriminatory treatment against a "minority job series," a practice the commission itself has previously identified as discriminatory.

Yoon, who has been with the NHRCK since July 2005, states he has handled all record management duties, including archival transfers, evaluations, reclassification for public disclosure, and training, largely by himself for 21 years, with only minimal assistance from support staff. He revealed to Hankyoreh that the solitary nature of his work has led to significant health problems, including two cancer surgeries and depression since 2020. He even had to return to work from a hospital stay for a herniated disc to prepare a report for the NHRCK chairperson regarding a national assessment of public institution record management.

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I have experienced two cancer surgeries and depression since 2020 while performing my duties alone.

The situation also highlights the NHRCK's own neglect in managing its historical records, which are crucial for understanding human rights violations and the nation's responses. According to lawmaker Seo Mi-hwa, these valuable documents are being handled by just one person. Yoon expressed regret that historically significant records, such as meeting minutes concerning the "Roh Moo-hyun defense counsel guarantee resolution," are not being properly managed due to a lack of personnel.

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Even last year, while hospitalized for a herniated disc, I had to rush to the office because the chairperson of the Human Rights Commission requested a report related to the National Archives' 'Public Institution Record Management Evaluation.'

The NHRCK's poor record management practices are further evidenced by its 'Ma' rating, the lowest possible, in national record management evaluations for both 2023 and 2025. It was the only central administrative agency among approximately 50 to receive this lowest grade. The commission stated that it has continuously requested additional personnel from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety since 2016 but has not seen these requests reflected. They pledged to continue efforts to secure the necessary staffing.

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Valuable materials that allow us to examine the history of human rights violations and the national response process are being handled by a single employee.