corresponding index of non-vulnerable groups, but grew to 71% in 2010 and further to 74.6% in 2014.
However, the smart information access level of vulnerable groups still remains low at 57.4%. Within the
vulnerable groups, farmers and fishermen (51.4%) and late middle-aged and older persons (54.3%) show a
lower level than persons with disabilities (60.2%) and low-income households (72.5%). Accordingly, it is
feared that the information access gap is likely to grow, since more information is being distributed at a faster
speed through smart technologies than through PCs now.
102.
Article 15 (b) of the ICESCR provides for ‘the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and
its applications’. However, the Government, in its current State Report, only mentioned its policy actions to
improve information access of persons with disabilities and the legal system concerning life ethics, without
providing any data in relation to a range of issues which are raised not only from the CESCR but also by the
Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights and the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, including
discrimination in enjoyment of science and technology, possible human rights violations due to the
developments in science and technology and, particularly, new types of privacy problems caused by rapidly
developing information technologies.
Question suggested
103.
Please specify the policy measures that the Government has taken or plans to take, in order to
resolve discrimination in enjoyment of science, technology and culture, and also specify the policy
approaches that the Government has taken to address the privacy problems due to the emergence of new
information and communication technologies, and its plan in this regards
Issue 19: Business and Human Rights
Current status
104.
In 2016, the NHRCK recommended the Government to set up the National Action Plans on
Business and Human Rights, and it is reported that the Government has been taking the steps towards the
establishment of the National Actions Plans, including drawing up a draft version, holding public hearings
and collecting opinions from relevant ministries.
105. The Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other
Business Enterprises, in their report following the official visit to the ROK published on 1 June 2016,
emphasized that the Government should made more efforts in relation to the issue of human rights and
business. Specifically, the Working Group stressed that the Government should ensure that human rights due
diligence in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) is reflected in the
investment activities by the National Pension and the execution of the Economic Development Cooperation
Fund by the Export-Import Bank of Korea. In addition, it called on the Government and business enterprises
of the ROK to prevent human rights violations in the course of their business activities overseas and, if any
violation has occurred, take remedial actions in compliance with the relevant international standards and the
established good practices. The Working Group also proposed that an advisory group bringing together
various stakeholders should be formed within the OECD National Contact Point (NCP) in the ROK.
106.
The international organizations, particularly including the UN and the OECD, have expressed their
concerns about possible human rights violations which are related to Korean companies’ business activities
overseas, referring to the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation‘s import of cotton from
Uzbekistan, the working conditions at the apparel factories in Myanmar run by Korean companies, POSCO‘s
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