Introduction 1. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (“NHRCK”) hereby submits this report to the Pre-sessional Working Group prior to the 8th Review of the periodic report of the Republic of Korea by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (“CEDAW”). 2. As an independent human rights institution, and by presenting these 11 issues, the NHRCK wishes to provide the Working Group with impartial opinion and information for reference in preparing the List of Issues. Issue 1: The absence of an anti-discrimination law Current situation 3. The NHRCK recommended the Government to enact an anti-discrimination law on 7. 24. 2006, however, the Government proposal was not adopted at the end of the 18th session of the National Assembly. The bill was brought before the National Assembly on motions by several members of the National Assembly, but it never passed while no Government proposal was made. The NHRCK has again recommended the Government to enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law when the Commission made a recommendation on the third National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (“NAP”, 2017~2021) in July 2016. In addition, the Human Rights Committee expressed concern and made recommendations as follows after the review of the fourth periodic report by of the Republic of Korea in November 2015. a. “While noting the existence of a number of individual laws prohibiting specific forms of discrimination, the Committee is concerned that comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation is lacking. It is particularly concerned about the current lack of legislation defining and prohibiting racial discrimination and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.” (para. 12) b. “The State party should adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, explicitly addressing all spheres of life and defining and prohibiting discrimination on any ground, including race, sexual orientation and gender identity. The legislation should impose appropriate penalties for direct and indirect discrimination committed by both public and 2