Asia-Pacific rights forum urges President Lee to review human rights commission's move
In short
The chair of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), Samar Haji Hasan, wrote to President Lee Jae-myung on 22 October asking him to review the planned relocation of the National Human Rights Commission to Sejong. The letter cites concerns about the commission's independence and about access for victims. The government's plan, announced on the 13th, covers a move by the first half of 2027.
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The chair of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), Samar Haji Hasan (사마르 하지 하산), has asked South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to review the planned relocation of the National Human Rights Commission to Sejong. According to the commission, as reported by Newsis and Kyunghyang Shinmun, the letter was sent on 22 October. Seoul Economic Daily said it was also copied to Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung (윤호중) and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (조현). The outlets describe the APF as a body of 26 national human rights institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Hasan wrote that he expressed deep concern over the government's announcement that the commission would move to Sejong in the first half of 2027. He acknowledged the government's efforts toward balanced regional development but said the commission's independence under the UN Paris Principles must be fully respected while pursuing that goal. He respectfully urged the president to review the plan through real consultation with the commission. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The letter said it raised serious concern that the plan and schedule were reportedly announced without prior consultation with the commission. Yonhap reported that the APF cited General Observation 2.7 of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which says administrative regulations must not impede national institutions from carrying out their work independently and effectively. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
On access, the APF said victims of rights violations, rights defenders and civil society must be able to reach the commission's expert support and decision-making. It said the extra travel burden could become a barrier for people with disabilities, older people, migrants and people in difficult economic circumstances. Seoul Economic Daily added that the commission's headquarters carries out nationwide core functions such as policy development, investigation, remedies, education and international cooperation, separately from regional offices. [ 2 , 4 ]
The APF also said that added travel time and cost could weaken cooperation with international bodies and civil society, which the letter described as a duty of national institutions under the Paris Principles. It objected to placing the commission in the same building as government ministries or other administrative bodies, citing the GANHRI general observation that proximity to government bodies can undermine independence and discourage complainants. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The APF asked that victims and civil society take part in the consultation, that the effects on independence, access, international cooperation and continuity of work be assessed, and that keeping the current headquarters be considered as an alternative. It said moving government ministries does not by itself create a need to move the commission, which is responsible for independently monitoring them. [ 2 , 3 ]
The government announced the relocation plan for central administrative agencies on the 13th. Newsis and Yonhap reported that the commission branch of the national public servants' union issued a statement the day before the letter, calling the plan a measure that took no account of the commission's status and role as an independent body. Newsis added that the commission held an extraordinary plenary meeting on the 15th, where concerns were reportedly raised about damage to independence and too little time to prepare. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The letter adds an outside voice to objections already raised by a union branch at the commission and, according to Newsis, by members of the commission itself. The documents do not say how the government has responded.
Key facts
- APF chair Samar Haji Hasan (사마르 하지 하산) sent a letter to President Lee Jae-myung on 22 October urging a review of the National Human Rights Commission's relocation to Sejong. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The APF is described as a body of 26 national human rights institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The government's plan for relocating central administrative agencies, announced on the 13th, includes the commission, with a move to Sejong by the first half of 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The letter was copied to Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung (윤호중) and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (조현). [ 2 , 3 ]
- The APF said extra travel could become a barrier to access for people with disabilities, older people, migrants and people in difficult economic circumstances. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The APF also objected to housing the commission in the same building as government ministries or other administrative bodies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The APF asked for the plan to be reviewed through real consultation with the commission, and said keeping the current headquarters should be examined as an alternative. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hasan wrote to President Lee on 22 October asking him to review the commission's relocation plan after real consultation with the commission. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The government's plan announced on the 13th places the commission among the bodies to move to Sejong by the first half of 2027. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The commission branch of the national public servants' union issued a statement on 21 October calling for a full review of the plan. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The letter was copied to the interior and foreign ministers. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the plan and schedule were announced without prior consultation with the commission. The APF letter says this is 'known' or reported to be the case, and the documents give no government account.
- What concerns were raised at the commission's extraordinary plenary meeting on the 15th. Only Newsis reports this, and it says the concerns were 'reportedly' independence and too little preparation time.
- How the government will respond to the letter. None of the documents carries a government response.