Women's rights advocate named human rights chief
By Kim Rahn
Choi Young-ae
A women's rights advocate has been nominated to head the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.
Among three candidates, President Moon Jae-in picked Choi Young-ae, chairwoman of the Women's Human Rights Defenders, for the post. If officially appointed, she will be the first woman to lead the commission.
She will replace the current chief, Lee Sung-ho, whose three-year term will end in August.
“Choi has led in the human rights protection of social minorities for nearly 30 years at civic groups and the commission,” presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. “We believe she will properly deal with the changing international standards on human rights and help Korea become a developed country in terms of human rights protection.”
This was the first time for the commission to go through an open and transparent process of selecting its chief, including open recruitment of applicants, Kim said. For previous heads, it had closed-door selections and those close to then-presidents used to be given the position. Human rights groups here and abroad had demanded Korea adopt a transparent and independent selection process.
Choi will be officially appointed after undergoing a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.
Born in Busan, Choi majored in Christian studies at Ewha Womans University and obtained a master's degree in women's studies there.
She was a founding member and the head of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, the nation's first counseling center for victims of sexual violence. She was also one of the standing commissioners at the NHRCK, and is currently the chief of a human rights commission under the Seoul Metropolitan Government.