1. Professor Soh Chang-rok of Korea University Graduate School of International Studies was re-elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Advisory Committee at the organization’s election for the October 2017-September 2020 term held in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 29, local time. His new term will begin on October 1.

° Candidates from three countries -- the Republic of Korea, India and the Philippines – vied keenly to fill two vacant seats in the Group of Asia-Pacific States. Professor Soh was elected with the support of 32 out of the 47 member states of the HRC.

2. Professor Soh, who is already serving the 2014-2017 term on the HRC Advisory Committee, has compiled “a report on the role of local government in the promotion and protection of human rights” and “a report on a study regarding regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights.” He also participated in “research on the impact of non-transfer of illegal funds on human rights” as a rapporteur. He is seen to have been re-elected to the HRC Advisory Committee in recognition of such contributions.

3. The ROK government expects that with professor Soh re-elected to the Advisory Committee, the country will be able to contribute further to the international efforts to protect and promote human rights. Going forward, the government will continue to render support to Korean human rights experts with their bids to build presence at the UN’s human rights mechanisms.

° Among the Korean nationals currently serving in the UN’s human rights mechanisms are Shin Hei-soo on the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Kim Hyung-shik on the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Lee Yang-hee, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; Hong Seong-phil in the UN HRC Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and Baik Tae-ung in the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Chung Chin-sung, elected to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in June 2017, will start working on it in 2018.


* unofficial translation