Korean lawmakers introduce resolution condemning Iran crackdown

Rep. Lee Un-ju of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea speaks at the National Assembly, Jan. 12. Yonhap

A coalition of Korean lawmakers submitted a resolution condemning what they describe as Iran’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests, urging a coordinated international response and demanding the Korean government prioritize the safety of its citizens in Iran.

Rep. Lee Un-ju, a Supreme Council member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), announced Friday that she filed the resolution, which denounces the Iranian government’s suppression of ongoing demonstrations, calls for protection of the Iranian people’s lives and human rights, and emphasizes the need for a strong and responsible stance from the international community.

The resolution drew support from 77 lawmakers across party lines, including more than 60 from the DPK, as well as members of the main opposition People Power Party, the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, the Social Democratic Party and several independents.

Lee described the effort as a rare example of bipartisan consensus on an urgent international human rights issue. She expressed her gratitude to lawmakers who came together, highlighting the shared conviction that Korea’s National Assembly should not remain silent when faced with civilian massacres and state-led human rights abuses.

Lee stressed that Korea has a historical responsibility to speak out, pointing to its own experience with state violence.

“Korea has firsthand experience of the horrors of state violence, including during the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980. So we cannot turn away from what is happening in Iran today,” Lee said.

She also criticized what she sees as reluctance within the global community to address the situation in Iran, attributing this hesitation to geopolitical and economic interests.

“If the world chooses to ignore large-scale human rights violations due to concerns over geopolitics or energy security, the international community is turning its back on its own values and responsibilities,” she said.

Lee also pointed to the longstanding relationship between Korea and Iran, noting that Seoul’s Teheran-ro — one of the capital’s main boulevards — symbolizes decades of diplomatic and economic ties.

“It is heartbreaking to witness such a tragedy in a country with which we have shared friendship for so many years,” she said, expressing hope that the resolution might offer “a small spark of hope” for Iranians suffering under economic hardship and political repression.

The resolution also urges the Korean government to take all necessary diplomatic and administrative steps to protect Korean nationals in Iran and to ensure their safe departure if circumstances worsen.