Commission's Major Activities
National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2016
Section 3. Surveys
of Human Rights Conditions and
Human Rights Advocacy
1. Surveys and researches of human rights conditions4)
The surveys and commissioned studies of human rights conditions are designed to draw an
accurate picture of the various human rights issues and situations facing the nation. The final
survey reports are used as basic resources for recommending human rights policies.
A. Survey of hate speech
The Commission carried out a survey and study of hate speech against women, persons with
disabilities, immigrants, and sexual minorities to understand the prevalence of hate speech
throughout Korean society and to come up with policy alternatives to reduce hate speech.
Conducted among a total of 1,014 people, including people aged between 15 and 59,
foreigners, women, disabled people, immigrants, and sexual minorities (about 20 persons
participated in in-depth interviews), the survey mainly asked about respondents’experiences
with hate speech, either as an offender or a victim, and attitude towards regulations. According to
the results of the survey, victims did not know how to react to hate speech, negative implications
are more pronounced in offline exposure than online incidents, and offenders may not be aware
of their hate speech. In line with these reasons, respondents’attitudes towards regulations were
generally positive. They expressed the need for legal restrictions with sufficient consideration
given to their limitations and the side effects. They also voiced the need for non-judicial relief
measures, as well as qualitative, preventative measures such as education to promote human
rights awareness.
B. Survey of human rights conditions of marginal part-time workers
The Commission worked with the Korean Contingent Workers’Center to conduct a human
rights condition survey of marginal part-time workers who typically work no more than 15
4) For surveys related to North Korea, see "Section 4. Special Programmes: Increased activities to improve North Korean
human rights" (p. 39)
34