NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Human rights in South Korea

The situation of human rights in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) has changed significantly from the days of military dictatorship and reflects its status as a constitutional democracy governed by a president and a unicameral legislature. Citizens regularly choose their representatives in free and fair multiparty elections. The President is head of state of South Korea. ... Roh Moo-hyun, born September 1, 1946, has been the President of South Korea since February 25, 2003. ... The Prime Minister of South Korea (Korean hangul: êµë¬´ì´ë¦¬; hanja: åœ‹å‹™ç¸½ç†; revised: gukmuchongni; McCune-Reischauer: kukmuchongni) is appointed by the President of South Korea with the National Assemblys approval. ... Han Myung-Sook (í•œëª…ìˆ™, éŸ“æ˜Žæ·‘, born March 24, 1944) is a Korean deputy from the ruling Uri Party. ... The National Assembly (Hangul: êµíšŒ; Hanja: åœ‹æœƒ; Revised: Gukhoe; McCune-Reischauer: Kukoe) is the parliament of South Korea. ... The Supreme Court of Korea is the highest court in South Korea. ... The Chief Justice of the Republic of Korea is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea. ... Political parties in South Korea lists political parties in South Korea. ... Elections in South Korea provides an overview of the history of South Korean elections and their results. ... Legislative elections were held in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) on April 15, 2004. ... Unification Flag of Korea Korean reunification is the possible future unification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government. ... The Sunshine Policy is the guiding philosophy of South Koreas foreign policy towards North Korea. ... Administrative divisions of South Korea South Korea is divided into 1 Special City (Teukbyeolsi), 6 Metropolitan Cities (Gwangyeoksi), and 9 Provinces (Do). ... The foreign relations of South Korea are dominated by its relationships with its neighbors North Korea, Japan, and China, and with ally United States of America. ... The History of South Korea traces the development of South Korea from the division of the Korean Peninsula in 1945 to the present day. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

The Government generally respects the human rights of its citizens; however, there are problems in some areas. The police and prison personnel have at times physically and verbally abused detainees, although such abuses have declined in recent years. The National Security Law criminalizes speech in support of Communism or North Korea; though it is unevenly enforced and prosecutions decline every year, there are still over 100 such cases brought annually. Women and minorities continue to face legal and societal discrimination. South Korea is a country of origin, transit, and destination for human trafficking. As a country of origin, women were trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation to the United States, sometimes through Canada, as well as to other Western countries and Japan. The government implemented strict laws to curb prostitution and human trafficking and to aid trafficking victims. This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... Trafficking in human beings (or human trafficking) involves the movement of people (mostly women and children) against their will by means of force for the purpose of sexual or labor exploitation. ...

Historical context

For most of the 20th century South Korean citizens lived under non-democratic rule, first by Japan and then by the authoritarian military regimes of Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwan, and Roh Tae-woo. Civil liberties, most especially the freedoms of speech and association, were significantly curtailed and regime opponents risked torture and imprisonment; during World War II the comfort women system made sex slaves of many Korean girls and women. In 1967 the KCIA fabricated a spy ring, imprisoning 34 citizens, to solidify the rule Park Chung-hee.[1] After the Gwangju Massacre in 1980, public desire for democracy and greater civil liberties was increasingly expressed; the years just before the 1988 Seoul Olympics saw an increase in pro-democracy activity that forced free elections to be held in 1992, putting long-time human rights activist Kim Young-sam into power. Park Chung-hee (September 30, 1917 - October 26, 1979) was President of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. ... Chun Doo-hwan (Korean hangul: ì „ë‘í™˜; hanja: å…¨æ–—ç…¥; revised: Jeon Duhwan; McCune-Reischauer: ChÅn Tuhwan; born 18 January 1931) was a Korean military officer and the President of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. ... Roh Tae-woo (born December 4, 1942 in Daegu, South Korea), a Korean general and politician. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... Comfort women ) or military comfort women ) is a euphemism for women who were forced to work as sex slaves in military brothels in Japanese-occupied countries during World War II. The majority of the women (ages 12+) were from Korea, but others came from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, China... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... The Agency for National Security Planning (also referred to as ANSP or KCIA) is the chief intelligence bureau of the Republic of Korea. ... The Gwangju Massacre refers to the atrocities comitted in the city of Gwangju, South Korea from May 18 to May 27, 1980. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were held in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Kim Young-sam (born December 20, 1927) was the President of South Korea from February 25, 1993 to February 25, 1998. ...

Civil liberties

Individual rights

Basic rights such as free speech, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly and movement are generally strongly protected, though there are some minor restrictions. Every citizen over the age of 19 has the right to vote.

Official censorship does exist but is often easily evaded. The National Security Law makes it a crime to express sympathies with North Korea, and though it is not consistently enforced there are over 100 people jailed under it annually. A play about the Yodok prison camp in North Korea has come under significant pressure from authorities to tone down its criticism and the producers have been threatened with prosecution under the security law.[2] Some conservative groups have complained that police keep a tight watch on their demonstrations and that some people were prevented from attending rallies.[3] Former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young was once accused of attempting to distract reporters from a meeting of activists for human rights in North Korea. (Korean link) Several established human rights organizations, however, have held lectures and exhibits critical of North Korea with no interference.[4] YodÅk (or Yodeok, Korean ìš”ë•) is a political concentration camp in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea). ... Minister of Unification of the Republic of Korea. ... The human rights record of North Korea is extremely difficult to fully assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country. ...

Censorship is more notable in the media; despite the lifting of most such regulations in 1996 and 1998 following a Constitutional Court ruling that they were illegal, scenes of extreme violence can be barred and pornography is forbidden from showing penetration of any kind, and genitals must be blurred out; though technically legal, pornography must still meet some minimum standards of artistic integrity, which are not clearly written in the law.[5] In 1997 a human rights film festival was blocked and the organizers arrested for refusing to submit their films for pre-screening.[6] The government blocks access to North Korean websites and, sometimes, to major overseas web sites that host blogs. When South Korean citizen Kim Sun-il was held hostage and beheaded in Iraq, the government moved to block access to websites with the video of his execution.[7] There is currently a debate over whether to revoke the ability to make anonymous comments online.[8] 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kim Sun-il (September 13, 1970 â€“ June 22, 2004) was a South Korean translator working in Iraq for Gana General Trading Company, a South Korean company under contract to the U.S. military. ...

The current administration of Roh Moo-hyun has frequently clashed with the media, especially the conservative newspapers The Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo which have been particularly critical of him, and encouraged citizens to drop their subscriptions in favor of newspapers friendly to him. In a series of tax investigations, the companies most closely audited were also those least friendly towards the government.[9] Roh Moo-hyun, born September 1, 1946, has been the President of South Korea since February 25, 2003. ... Chosun Ilbo is one of the leading newspapers (if not the leading) in South Korea, with a circulation of 2,380,000 copies daily. ... The Dong-a Ilbo (literally East Asia Daily) is a major newspaper in South Korea. ...

Minority and immigrant rights

South Korea is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the world, and it is very difficult for outsiders to be fully accepted. Legal protections for the rights of minority populations are often weak. The large population of workers from Southeast Asia, over half of whom are estimated to be in the country illegally, face considerable discrimination both in and out of the workplace.

Mixed-race Korean children also face pervasive discrimination, so much so that a large number of them attempt suicide and it is rare for them even to finish high school; many are simply given up for adoption. When Hines Ward, who is of mixed Korean and African American heritage, earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XL, it sparked a debate in Korean society about the treatment mixed children receive.[10] The International adoption of South Korean children is a recent historical process triggered initially by casualties of the Korean War after 1953. ... Hines E. Ward, Jr. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black), is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Date February 5, 2006 Stadium Ford Field City Detroit, Michigan MVP Hines Ward, wide receiver Favorite Steelers by 4 National anthem Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, ASL performed by Angela LaGuardia Coin toss Tom Brady Referee Bill Leavy Halftime show The Rolling Stones Attendance 68,206 TV in...

There are few if any legal protections in place for gays and lesbians, and many of them are afraid to come out to their families, friends, and co-workers.[11] The government blocked access from libraries, schools, state offices, and even internet cafes, to the website of the Lesbian and Gay Alliance Against Discrimination in Korea.[12] Gay men are not allowed to serve in the military, and in 2005 five soldiers were discharged for homosexuality.[13] Template:Diffgggtgerent calendars 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Refugees from North Korea

Many refugees from North Korea have complained that they find integration into South Korean society to be difficult; they say they often face social ostracism and a government that would rather they keep quiet about the human rights situation in the North.[14][15][16] An internet radio station operated by refugees, broadcasting for those living in the North, was subject to a campaign of harassment that ended in it being unable to afford its rent after less than one month of operation. The station accused the government of either being behind the campaign or tacitly encouraging it.[17][18] The government also blocked activists from sending radios to the North, and a scuffle reportedly left activist Norbert Vollertsen injured.[19] Norbert Vollertsen is a German doctor and human rights activist. ...

Criminal justice system

Many South Koreans consider the police force to be corrupt or incompetent; during the years of military rule it was well known that the police would beat innocent suspects into confessing, a tactic portrayed in the movie Memories of Murder. A Korean joke has it that the police, sent into the woods to catch a mouse, emerged 10 minutes later with a bloodied bear swearing he is a mouse. Both problems have lessened with democratization. Memories of Murder is a South Korean film based on the true story of the countrys first serial killings that occurred between 1986 and 1991. ...

Every year in the nation's prisons there are at least 1,000 prisoners of conscience, most of whom are there for refusing to serve in the military. Others are imprisoned under the National Security Law, for offenses that include publishing a pro-North Korean book, uploading socialist material to the internet, and joining organizations sympathetic to North Korea. The longest-held such prisoners are North Korean spies or collaborators who refused to recant their Communist beliefs; some were repatriated to the North but the rest are kept in solitary confinement in poor conditions.[20] Prisoner of conscience (POC) is a term coined by the international human rights advocacy organization Amnesty International. ...

The right to a jury is not provided; all judgments are rendered by judges. Two unusual aspects of the system are the principle that in a fight the least injured person is held responsible regardless of who threw the first punch, and that for many crimes charges will be dropped if the victim and offender reach a monetary settlement.

Conscription and abuses in the military

Military service is mandatory for nearly all South Korean men. There have been widespread reports of sexual abuse, including rape, and of degrading treatment in boot camp. There have been credible reports of recruits forced to eat and smear themselves with human feces.[21][22]

Human trafficking

See also: Human trafficking; Prostitution in South Korea
South Korea is both a source and destination country for human trafficking; mainly Russian and Southeast Asian women are brought into the country for prostitution, many of whom are tricked into thinking they will have a legitimate job.[23] Many of them serve the local US military population, though not all of them sleep with their clients.[24] Trafficking in human beings (or human trafficking) involves the movement of people (mostly women and children) against their will by means of force for the purpose of sexual or labor exploitation. ... Prostitution in South Korea is a large, though illegal, industry and the Ministry of Gender and Family Equality estimates that it comprises over 4% of South Koreas Gross Domestic Product, with profit alone exceeding $22 billion. ...

Though as recently as 2001 the government received low marks on the issue, in recent years the government has made significant strides in its enforcement efforts[25]. Human trafficking was outlawed and penalties for prostitution increased[26]; the 2004 Act on the Prevention of the Sex Trade and Protection of its Victims was passed, toughening penalties for traffickers, ending deportation of victims, and establishing a number of shelters for victims. As of 2005 there were 144 people serving jail time for human trafficking. US forces in Korea have cooperated with the government's initiative.[27]

National Human Rights Commission

On November 25, 2001, South Korea established the National Human Rights Commission, a governmental body charged with hearing human rights complaints and making recommendations for change. Though it has no enforcement powers and its decisions are not binding, those rulings are often widely reported and can generate controversy. It has recommended the abolition of the National Security Law[28] and the death penalty[29], ending hair regulations and corporal punishment for public school students, and allowing draftees to claim conscientious objector status. Its current general secretary, Kwak Nohyun, is a renowned law professor who is unique among the global 'family' of National institutions for human rights in that he formerly served as a Commisioner. [30] Some business leaders have called for the commission to be replaced or disbanded after a set of labor-friendly rulings.[31] A national human rights institution Today, human rights considerations are relevant to almost every sphere of governmental activity and indeed, to many other areas of public and private life. ...

External links

News reports The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), founded in 1992, is a global network of 72 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression. ... Human Rights Watch is a U.S.-based international human rights non-governmental organization located in New York City, USA, that conducts advocacy and research on human rights issues. ... Amnesty International logo Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international, non-governmental organization with the stated purpose of promoting all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. ... This map reflects the findings of Freedom Houses 2006 survey Freedom in the World, concerning the state of world freedom in 2005. ...

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