2023-11-02 11:20:14
◀ Anchor ▶
Kim Yong-won, a standing member of the National Human Rights Commission, was reported to the Corruption Investigation Office today on charges of dereliction of duty.
The reason is that while he hangs up holiday greeting banners in his hometown and goes to local festivals in his hometown during his vacation, the Human Rights Commission subcommittee he is in charge of has not held a meeting for over three months.
Reporter Kun-yeon Gun covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
On the 13th of last month, a man was introduced as a guest of honor at the opening ceremony of a local festival in Yeongdo, Busan.
Kim Yong-won, a standing member of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, took annual leave and attended the hometown event.
Previously, around Chuseok, ‘holiday greetings’ banners with clear faces and positions were hung around Yeongdo-gu.
Standing member Kim has run for office three times in his hometown, since the 15th general election in 1996.
Therefore, there is a series of criticisms regarding ‘making your face known’ ahead of next year’s general election.
On the Human Rights Commission’s internal bulletin board, a criticism was posted saying, “Throw away the trivial human rights member and start anew as a servant of the people in Yeongdo-gu.”
There was also a comment quoting the Human Rights Commission’s Code of Conduct for Civil Servants, which states that “the name of the committee or one’s position must not be announced or posted for personal gain.”
However, amid such criticism, the Human Rights Commission’s First Committee on Relief from Violations, chaired by Standing Committee Member Kim, was virtually closed following its meeting on August 1.
An official from a human rights group today reported standing committee member Kim to the Corruption Investigation Office on charges of dereliction of duty.
[김원규 변호사/고발 대리인]
″You have not been performing your duties for more than 90 days now, exceeding the period stipulated by law. We must not sit idly by on issues like this.”
In a phone call with reporters, standing committee member Kim repeatedly emphasized, “The so-called meeting cannot be held because Human Rights Commission Chairman Song Doo-hwan is rejecting my request for reasonable personnel action.”
[김용원/인권위 상임위원]
″(Human Rights Commission) Complaint cases refer to cases that are much less severe than ‘violation of fundamental rights,’ and most cases are not recognized in the relief process. What’s the big deal regarding being delayed by a few months?”
Regarding the controversy over his “political actions,” he said, “What’s wrong with greeting the residents of my hometown as someone who does this kind of work?” but declined to say anything regarding his purpose.
[김용원/인권위 상임위원]
″(For what purpose did you put up the banner?) Why do I even talk regarding the purpose? It’s regarding privacy.″
It is pointed out that the ‘extraordinary words and actions’ of a vice minister-level standing member threaten even the basis for the existence of the Human Rights Commission.
[박주민 의원/국회 운영위]
″It is true that (the Human Rights Commission) operates in accordance with human rights and constitutional values. However, recently, they seem to be pursuing the political color or cause of the political party, and that makes the operation of the Human Rights Commission a bit difficult.”
There are 218 complaints of human rights violations pending in Standing Committee Member Kim’s First Committee on Violation Relief.
This is Gunayeon from MBC News.
Video coverage: Wi Dong-won/Video editing: Kwon Na-yeon
1698945257
#Standing #member #Human #Rights #Commission #put #Chuseok #banner #hometown #accused #dereliction #duty #human #rights #group