Paris, Seoul, 2 July 2025. In the lead-up to the polls, FIDH and TJWG sent a questionnaire to Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party), Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party), Lee Jun-seok (Reform Party), and Kwon Young-guk (Democratic Labor Party). The questionnaire contained 31 questions concerning eight selected human rights areas.
Lee Jae-myung, who was elected President with nearly 50% of the vote, submitted blanket comments to three of the eight human rights areas (human rights in North Korea; women’s rights and gender equality; and climate justice) and failed to reply to questions related to the remaining issues. Kim Moon-soo, who received 41% of the vote, submitted answers to only four questions – all related to human rights in North Korea. Lee Jun-seok and Kwon Young-guk, who won 8% and almost 1% of the vote, respectively, replied to all 31 questions.
The questionnaire covered important, pressing human rights issues that South Korea is facing. FIDH and TJWG therefore urge President Lee Jae-myung, chosen by the South Korean people in a democratic election, to seriously consider the human rights issues raised in the questionnaire and to address them in the new government’s key policy tasks.
See the full questionnaire with the replies received here.