By Kang Shin-who
The nation’s human rights agency has decided not to investigate the illegal surveillance of a citizen by the Prime Minister’s Office, drawing protest from civic groups and opposition political parties.
The National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) conclusion came after the agency contemplated whether to take up the case filed by victim Kim Jong-ik, a businessman, over the past six months.
Out of the eight council members, five voted against the special investigation, with two in favor. Chairman Hyun Byung-chul abstained.
Those opposing the investigation said that the agency can drop a petition if the prosecution is already probing the case and if the incident took place over a year ago.
Chairman Hyun has been under pressure to step down by former permanent council members and civic groups for having delayed the handling of the illegal surveillance incident and other politically-sensitive issues.
The opposition parties immediately criticized the decision. “There would be no worse violation of human rights than the surveillance of a citizen, which was usually a method used by dictators,” said Chun Jung-bae, supreme council member of the opposition Democratic Party.
Some civic groups also issued statements criticizing the agency’s decision.
“The NHRC chose to be silent over a serious human rights infringement case. It is destroying the foundation for its existence. Chairman Hyun Byung-chul should quit, and take all the responsibility,” said Human Rights Solidarity for New Society in a statement.
In the meantime, the commission advised the Ministry of Justice to revise a related law on sex offenders, making it mandatory to get a prior agreement from criminals before they undergo hormonal chemical treatment.
“The law doesn’t require agreement from the criminals, so it punishes them more than necessary,” it said. “Also, about the efficiency of the law is questionable as those who are under the hormonal chemical treatment can take other medicine to offset it.”
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