4 Introduction following factors: the interest of the international community to establish national institutions for human rights, the long-held public desire for democracy and improved human rights conditions, sustained efforts by human rights activists and civil society, and the will of the government. In June 1993, internal discussions were held about establishing a national human rights institution in Korea following the participation of a joint committee of private organizations in the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria in June 1993. Human rights groups and civil society continuously voiced the need for a national institution dedicated to human rights issues, and private entities demanded legislation for an independent national human rights institution that would be responsible for research and study of human rights protection and promotion, educational programs and promotional activities in accordance with the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 1992/54 and the Paris Principles. Based on discussions at home and abroad, presidential candidate Kim Dae-jung included the establishment of a human rights institution in his presidential election pledge in 1997. The Kim Dae-jung administration saw the enactment of the National Human Rights Commission Act on 24 May 2001, and six months later on 25 November 2001, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established as an independent state organization. 2. Identity The Commission has a dual and unique identity: as a national institution committed to human rights issues, it actively advocates people’s rights guaranteed under the Constitution and carries out its duty to protect and promote human rights in accordance with the National Human Rights Commission Act, while seeking direction for its activities from international human rights norms. A national organization dedicated to human rights The Commission is a national organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the human rights of the socially disadvantaged and the minorities. It is an active advocate of people’s rights guaranteed under the Constitution and performs its duties to protect and promote human rights as per the National Human Rights Commission Act.