Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
If you are a member of the press, please reach out to [email protected]
Report
Annual Report: South Korea 2013
Republic of Korea Head of state Lee Myung-bak Head of government Kim Hwang-sik The National Security Law (NSL) was increasingly and arbitrarily used to curtail freedoms of association and expression. This extended to the internet, where online debate on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was tightly controlled. Media workers took industrial action in protest against the state's denial of their right to freedom of expression. Workers' rights remained under threat, as long-term labour disputes went unresolved. Migrant workers continued to face discrimination and labour exploitation. There were no executions. (REPUBLIC OF) Background In December, Park Geun-hye was…
May 20, 2013
Press Release
South Korea: The politically motivated onslaught on free speech
South Korea has seen a dramatic increase in the abuse of national security laws in a politically motivated attempt to silence debate, Amnesty International said on Thursday.
November 29, 2012
Report
The National Security Law: Curtailing Freedom of Expression and Association in the Name of Security in the Republic of Korea
Since 2008, the South Korean authorities have increasingly used vaguely worded clauses of the NSL to arbitrarily target people or organizations perceived to oppose government policies.
November 28, 2012
Press Release
South Korea Must Release Activist Charged Over Kim Jong-il Tweet, says Amnesty International
The South Korean authorities should immediately release a social media activist accused of helping "the enemy" for re-tweeting messages from North Korea's official government Twitter account, Amnesty International said today.
February 1, 2012
Report
Annual Report: South Korea 2011
Head of state: Lee Myung-bak Head of government: Kim Hwang-Sik (replaced Yoon Jeung-hyun Death penalty: abolitionist in practice Population: 48.5 million Life expectancy: 79.8 years Under-5 mortality (m/f): 6/6 per 1,000 The government increasingly used vaguely worded national security, defamation and other laws to harass and suppress its critics. In February, the Constitutional Court ruled that the death penalty did not violate the Constitution. In October and November, the Court conducted hearings on whether restrictions on migrant workers' labour mobility, and military conscription without options for conscientious objection, constituted violations of fundamental rights. Background Tensions between South and North…
June 20, 2011
Report
Annual Report: South Korea 2010
Head of state Lee Myung-bak (replaced Roh Moo-hyun in February) Head of government Chung Un-chan (replaced Han Seungsoo in September) Death penalty abolitionist in practice Population 48.3 million Life expectancy 77.9 years Under-5 mortality (m/f) 5/5 per 1,000 Discrimination against migrant workers was widespread and many suffered extremely poor working conditions. Police arrested journalists and protesters who were exercising their right to freedom of expression. Impunity for law enforcement officials using unnecessary or excessive force during protests, evictions and immigration raids continued. Migrants' rights The government-run Employment Permit System (EPS) provided employers with excessive powers over migrants, which increased their…
March 19, 2011