South Korea: Presidential candidates’ human rights policies surveyed

20/05/2025
Press release
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CHUNG SUNG-JUN / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / Getty Images via AFP

Ahead of South Korea’s upcoming presidential election, set to be held on 3 June 2025, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) have sought clarifications from the main candidates about their positions on key human rights issues of concern.

Paris, Seoul, 20 May 2025. FIDH and TJWG sent a questionnaire to the four presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party), Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party), Lee Jun-seok (Reform Party) and Kwon Young-guk (Democratic Labor Party), who are qualified to take part in the three presidential debates organized by the National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission on 18, 23, and 27 May 2025.

"This survey is a timely opportunity for the presidential candidates to go on record about their human rights policies at a critical time in the Korean Peninsula. We urge all four main presidential candidates to state their positions transparently and unequivocally so voters can make an informed choice on 3 June", said FIDH Asia Desk Deputy Director Juliette Rousselot.

The questionnaire contains 31 questions concerning the following eight selected human rights areas: 1) adoption, ratification, and implementation of international human rights treaties; 2) promotion of human rights in North Korea; 3) the death penalty; 4) women’s rights and gender equality; 5) sexual orientation and gender identity; 6) business and human rights and labor rights; 7) refugees, asylum-seekers, and other migrants; and 8) climate justice.

FIDH and TJWG expect to make public the responses they receive before Election Day.

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