June 2020, calling for prompt legislation.21 To date, four anti-discrimination bills have been proposed to the 21st National Assembly, but the legislation is not progressing.22 24. The Korea Communications Commission has administrative sanctions in place in order to prevent the spread of discriminatory perception of races and national origins via mass media. Nonetheless, the NHRCK survey of 2016 found that hate speech and discriminatory language on online media has reached serious levels, and that women, sexual minorities, persons with disabilities and migrants are the main targets of hate speech.23 Moreover, it is to note that hate speech by some politicians tends to be intensified during election period. It is necessary to impose effective sanctions thereon, given that hate speech by politicians makes more direct harmful effects on its targets; is rapidly reproduced; and bring significant negative impacts on society. 25. With a deepening conflict over the construction of an Islamic mosque in a local community in Daegu, it is concerning that some residents and groups of people continue acts of demeaning Islamic culture and provoking hatred against Muslims.24 26. According to the Fact-finding Survey of North Korean Defectors’ Perception of Human Rights carried out by the NHRCK in 2016, 45.4 percent of the respondents answered that they had experienced discrimination in South Korea primarily because of their North Korean origin, followed by their academic background, non-regular employment status, age, and economic status. 27. Anti-discrimination legislation may contribute to improving the quality of life of the socially disadvantaged and realizing the dignity and equality of all members of society in ways of affirming diverse matters of discrimination in Korean society, providing effective remedies, and rectifying discriminatory practices and systems. In this light, the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation should be perceived as a pressing issue in Korean society. 28. Proposed recommendation: The State party should enact comprehensive antidiscrimination legislation, without delay, that includes gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. as prohibited grounds of discrimination. To this end, the Government should formulate its policy direction and specific plans towards the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation, announce them to the public, and widely publicize them through promotional materials and mass media. 29. Proposed recommendation: The State party should provide follow-up information on the implementation of recommendation above, at its earliest convenience, to the Committee. 7