NHRC introduces agenda for 'guaranteeing President Yoon's right to defend...a civil society backlash

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has decided to present an agenda to thoroughly guarantee President Yoon Suk Yeol's right to defend the impeachment trial at a plenary committee meeting to be held on the 13th.

The Human Rights Commission announced that it will deliberate on the "recommendation of the country's countermeasures to overcome the crisis caused by the declaration of martial law" at the first plenary session of 2025.

Five non-standing members, including Kim Yong-won, Han Seok-hoon, Kim Jong-min, Lee Han-byeol and Kang Jeong-hye, proposed and approved by Chairman Ahn Chang-ho, recommended that the head of the Constitutional Court thoroughly guarantee President Yoon's right to defend the impeachment trial.

He also recommended that the head of the Seoul Central District Court strictly examine arrest and detention in martial law-related trials and actively grant bail, and that the prosecutor general and others should not investigate without detention and request an arrest warrant.

It was also found to include a recommendation to the National Assembly Speaker to withdraw the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and to serve as acting president.

The Joint Action to Correct Human Rights Commission, a group of civic groups, urged the agenda to be withdrawn immediately, saying it "does not meet the purpose of the commission to guarantee the human rights and dignity of everyone and prevent discrimination."