– The Republic of Korea Embarked on its Role as a Member of the Human Rights Council

1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Insun visited Geneva from February 24 to 26 and attended the high-level segment of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC).

2. In her keynote address delivered on the afternoon of February 25, Vice Minister Kang presented the Republic of Korea’s basic stance and activity plans as a member of the HRC for the 2025-2027 term. The Vice Minister highlighted Korea’s priorities including supporting the UN human rights mechanisms and developing countries’ efforts for human rights capacity building; promoting and protecting human rights in the digital age; and advocating the human rights of vulnerable groups such as women and girls.

3. Vice Minister Kang expressed concern over the ongoing grave human rights situation in North Korea. She underscored the increasingly entangling link between North Korea’s human rights crisis and international peace and security due to illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Vice Minister Kang also raised alarms over the inhumane treatment of forcibly repatriated North Korean escapees, while renewing the Republic of Korea’s call for the countries around the world to respect the principle of non-refoulement.

4. Furthermore, Vice Minister Kang strongly urged an immediate release of the detainees in North Korea including three missionaries from the Republic of Korea, -- KIM Jung Wook, KIM Kook Kie and CHOI Chun Gil -- as well as an immediate resolution of issues concerning the abductees and unrepatriated prisoners of war in North Korea. She also urged North Korea to heed the international community’s recommendations made during the fourth cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of North Korea last November and to take prompt actions to implement them.

5. Vice Minister Kang emphasized the remarkable resilience that Korea has displayed on its path to freedom, democracy and prosperity since the end of the Korean War. She stressed that Korea remains committed to drawing on its experience to closely cooperate with the international community for the protection and promotion of human rights.

6. On the sidelines of the HRC meeting, Vice Minister Kang met with representatives of major international organizations based in Geneva. On February 24, Vice Minister Kang met with Ms. SungAh Lee, Deputy Director General for Management and Reform of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and explored ways to enhance cooperation with IOM on global migration issues. On February 25, the Vice Minister met with Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, discussed ways to deepen cooperation between Korea and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on matters including improving the North Korean human rights situation, and shared Korea’s planned role on the HRC. In her meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, Vice Minister Kang appreciated the active role of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in addressing the global refugee crisis and discussed ways for Korea’s contribution. The Vice Minister also had a meeting with Koreans working in international organizations based in Geneva including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), and listened to their views about how to increase representation of Koreans in international organizations.

7. Vice Minister Kang’s participation in the high-level segment of the HRC marked the beginning of Korea’s activity as a member of the HRC and provided an opportunity to reaffirm the country’s continued commitment to contribute to the international efforts for the protection and promotion of human rights. This year, the Republic of Korea is serving as a member of three major UN bodies, namely the HRC, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Going forward, Korea will continue its close engagement with countries across the world for the realization of universal values, including the promotion and protection of human rights.