“Can't work under Chairman Ahn Chang-ho's system”... Another NHRC section chief returns post
Reporter Jang Jong-woo - Revised 2026-06-19 15:38
Following the head of the military human rights protection division, the head of the discrimination correction division raises issues... Internal movements demanding Chairman Ahn Chang-ho's resignation continue
![National Human Rights Commission located in Jung-gu, Seoul. Provided by the National Human Rights Commission.] (image)
Park Gwang-woo, head of the Discrimination Correction General Division, posted a message titled 'Joining the return of department head position' on the NHRC internal bulletin board on the morning of the 19th. He stated, "I also intend to return my position as head of the Discrimination Correction General Division in the personnel changes scheduled for July 1, so please reflect this." This is the second time an NHRC executive has announced the return of their post, following Kim Jae-seok, head of the Military Human Rights Protection General Division, on the 15th. At that time, Kim had stated, "I do not wish to work as a department head under the current leadership system." Both Kim and Park were born in 1968 and are among the most senior executives in the NHRC.
Park emphasized in his post, "There is only one reason I am returning my post: to once again urge the chairman to make a decision on his position, as he is being criticized for defending insurrection and not protecting the rights of minorities." He continued, "The chairman says it was justified, but handling the so-called 'Yoon Suk-yeol defense rights recommendation agenda' on February 10 last year was something the head of the National Human Rights Commission should never have done. It cannot escape the criticism of being an anti-human rights act of defending insurrection. He must take responsibility."
Park also criticized Chairman Ahn Chang-ho for recently not attending the Seoul Queer Culture Festival. He pointed out, "Protecting the human rights of the socially weak and minorities is the destiny of a national human rights institution and the duty of its head. Not being able to distinguish between the queer festival and hate rallies against sexual minorities, and ultimately the committee or the chairman's absence from the queer festival, is an example of abandoning the duty of the head of a national human rights institution." Chairman Ahn had initially stated he would visit both the Seoul Queer Culture Festival and the conservative Christian event 'Holy Breakwater National Unity Rally' in the name of neutrality, but after facing backlash from inside and outside the NHRC, he ended up visiting neither.
Furthermore, Park said, "I keep hearing questions like 'Is the NHRC okay?' 'Is it still the same?' 'Is that how it's going?' It is difficult to hold a position in this state. Therefore, I once again urge the chairman to decide his position, and I request that my post be accepted and returned."
With major NHRC executives successively expressing their intention to return their posts publicly, there are predictions that this trend could lead to collective action by employees. At the end of last year, dozens of NHRC employees and executives consecutively posted real-name messages on the internal bulletin board demanding Chairman Ahn's resignation. An NHRC employee said, "Further actions are expected. It is unclear how far the chain reaction will go."
