National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2020
1. Human Rights Counseling
Since its inception until the end of December 2020, the Commission processed approximately
430,000 counseling requests in total. In 2020, the number stood at 28,182, which represents a
decrease of 15.7% from the previous year. By type, 45.5% were related to human rights violations,
7.7% to discrimination, 3.7% to face-to-face petitions closed by counseling, and 43.1% to other
issues. Compared to 2019, the number of counseling requests related to human rights violations
increased by 4.4%, while counseling requests related to discrimination decreased by 0.6%. Other
issues include property rights, violations between private persons, legislation by the National
Assembly, and court proceedings.
[Table 2-2-2] Counseling Requests in the Last Five Years by Type
(Unit : cases, %)
Classification
Year
Total
Cumulative
sum
430,547
169,857
39.5
36,956
8.6
194,805
45.3
28,929
6.7
2020
28,182
12,813
45.5
2,162
7.7
12,160
43.1
1,047
3.7
2019
33,441
13,744
41.1
2,767
8.3
15,874
47.5
1,056
3.2
2018
32,278
12,970
40.2
2,772
8.6
15,365
47.6
1,171
3.6
2017
36,370
14,737
40.5
3,236
8.9
17,095
47
1,302
3.6
2016
31,616
14,421
45.6
2,530
8
13,661
43.2
1,004
3.2
Human rights
violations
Discrimination
Face-to-face petitions/
counseling concluded
Others
* The cumulative sum is the total from November 25, 2001 (the date of the establishment of the Commission), to December 31, 2020.
2. Petitions Filed
Since its inception in November 2001, the Commission received a total of 150,897 petitions,
of which 114,628, or 76.0%, were related to human rights infringement, 33,893, or 22.5%, to
discrimination, and 2,376, or 1.5%, to other issues. In 2020, 8,948 petitions were filed, of which
6,530 (73.0%) were related to infringements and 2,385 (26.7%) to discrimination.
Compared to the previous year, 804 fewer petitions were filed (8.2%), a decrease that can be
attributed to the social distancing measures related to COVID-19. The decrease was found in all
categories, i.e. human rights violations, discriminations, and others.
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