Millennial and Gen Z professionals who are North Korean defectors join the second term North Korean Human Rights Promotion Committee

The Ministry of Unification appoints members for the second-term North Korean Human Rights Promotion Committee and holds its first meeting (March 12)

On March 12, the Ministry of Unification, led by Minister Kim Yung Ho, appointed members of the second-term North Korean Human Rights Promotion Committee* and convened its first plenary meeting.

The new members of the second-term committee include attorney Lim Cheol, writer Kim Eunjoo, and other millennial and Gen Z professionals who are North Korean defectors.

* A total of 12 members were appointed for the second-term of the committee, taking into account various aspects such as discovering new millennial and Gen Z North Korean defectors, generational congruence, academic insights and backgrounds, with a one-year tenure.

During the meeting, Unification Minister Kim Yung Ho expressed gratitude to the newly appointed members and stated that the second-term committee will continue supporting activities that promote North Korean human rights. He further added that the committee “will play a crucial role in identifying issues and proposing solutions to key agendas related to North Korean human rights this year, including the right of access to information, identification of accountability, and human rights-security-unification connectivity.

Moreover, Minister Kim said that expanding universal values, including freedom and human rights, will serve as a foundation for “a unified Korean Peninsula where everyone can enjoy freedom and prosperity.” He further stressed that the ROK government will “not stop outstretching its hand towards North Korean residents and will not cease its efforts to improve North Korean human rights.”

Lastly, the minister urged the members to contribute to government policies based on their field experience and expertise.