By Bae Ji-sook
Two of the three commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) offered to resign Monday in what is seen as a revolt against the organization’s conservative chief Hyun Byung-chul.
Yoo Nam-young and Moon Kyung-ran have expressed their intent to step down, insiders say.
This is the first time that two high-ranking officials from the human rights agency have offered to quit simultaneously. Their resignations are expected to impose a major threat on the independent body’s future since more staff are forecast to follow suit, experts said.
Yoo, recommended by the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, was to work until his term ended on Dec. 24 and Moon, recommended by the ruling Grand National Party, was supposed to serve until February, 2011.
Insiders said there have been constant conflicts among the commissioners since Hyun, appointed by the conservative Lee Myung-bak administration, has been reluctant to deal with some controversial issues.
Among the issues that are thorny but significant for the protection of human rights neglected by the agency are the prosecution’s alleged abuse of their investigation methods and the ban on nighttime rallies.
These issues have been supported by many of the agency staff but Hyun has allegedly marred the discussions. The human rights agency said no administrative steps have been taken to process the resignations yet and that Yoo and Moon will still serve until President Lee accepts their desire to leave.
The two commissioners have claimed that Hyun has made several decisions that could damage the independence of the commission.
The chairman is also accused of having refused to hold meetings on issues important for human rights.
He is further suspected of orchestrating a plot to enact a rule on the commissioners’ meeting that weakens the influence of others, while strengthening his own power.
An insider said that since Hyun’s appointment in July last year, the commission has been mocked as a “puppet of the administration.”
Kim Hyung-wan, one of the starting members of the commission, quit in August last year, in opposition to Hyun’s appointment.
1 | South Korea speeds up full-fledged deployment of US anti-missile battery |
![[ANALYSIS] Tesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/b1cf8ba68d474cb69352bfe7ea9d14f0.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] How ATEEZ achieved worldwide success](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/c7723b56dde94eb4b260950d368fe8fb.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
