Judge will head human rights agency

By Kim Se-jeong

Lee Sung-ho

Cheong Wa Dae has chosen Seoul Central District Court chief justice Lee Sung-ho to head the National Human Rights Commission.

Lee, 58, will replace Hyun Byung-chul, who will retire next month. The chairman can serve only one three-year term and must first go through a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.

Lee studied law at Seoul National University, passing the bar exam in 1980. He spent the next three decades as a judge at courts around the country, and has led the Seoul court since 2013.

He has dealt with many big cases including the 2009 retrial of six people falsely accused of belonging to an anti-government movement in 1980, in which Lee acquitted them.

He apologized to the six for the court’s wrong decision under the dictatorial regime, becoming a celebrity in the legal community.

“Lee has shown undeterred faith and exceptional leadership in upholding human rights,” said presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook.

“The President believes he is the right fit for the position and that he will contribute to raising Korea’s standings on human rights in the international community.”

However, little else is known about Lee’s experience and knowledge related to human rights.

Activists have questioned his qualifications, saying he knows nothing about human rights and that the appointment process was not transparent.

“This position needs a person who can stand up against the government and those in power,” said Human Rights Solidarity for New Society co-chairperson Shin Soo-kyoung.

“Looking at his resume, he looks like another member of the elite,” she said.

“I don’t see any signs of him struggling.”

Activists also criticized President Park Geun-hye, who has the authority to appoint the chairperson, for ignoring their calls for a more transparent selection process.

“The President again defied the recommendations by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ICC) for transparency in the selection process,” activist Sook Myung from a human rights group said.

“For a long time, the international body has recommended Korea set up a selection committee involving human rights activists. But this again shows the President’s lack of willingness to comply with the international standards.”

The ICC has deferred grading the Korean commission three times over the past two years.

The activists also said the commission will continue not to do its role properly under Lee’s leadership.

Many said the current chairman and 10 other commissioners were appointed by the administration for political reasons, and the committee has remained silent on issues that were embarrassing to the administration.