National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2020 ■ Active inspections in support of victims Because of the closed nature of the sports community, victims are challenged in getting help when their rights are violated. To help victims reach out for help, the Commission continued to operate dedicated hotlines using phone, e-mail, and kakaotalk. In 2020, it was found that, given their training schedules, it is easier for athletes to call during night-time hours (18:00-24:00), so the hotline services were extended until midnight. As of December 31, the Commission received 110 individual cases and closed 99 cases, which include 19 cases closed with remedy recommendation, three resolved during investigation, and one closed with settlement. This outcome was based on efforts to maintain a high rate of remedied cases (23%) to build trust and address victims’ concerns. The Commission made some key recommendations, which include relief to victims of corporal punishment by school sports team manager and coach; disciplinary action against a school sports team coach who verbally abused athlete; disciplinary action against a college professor who made belittling remarks about handicapped persons in class; institutional improvements to address the lack of actions taken by related institutions for cases of violence and sexual violence; disciplinary action against a division chief of a sporting association for the disabled for making belittling remarks about handicapped persons; remedies in relation to a school violence incident for which the school failed to take necessary actions; remedies in relation to humiliating remarks made by a coach of a national team of handicapped athletes; disciplinary action against a manager of a sports association for the disabled for discriminating a deaf employee; disciplinary action against an elementary school coach for human rights violation; remedies in relation to an elementary school coach aiding sexual harassment and violence against an elementary school student; disciplinary action against a sports high school coach for exercising violence against athletes; high school athletes’ rights violated due to verbal abuse and excessive training by coach; lack of actions taken by school officials regarding sexual harassment by a coach; institutional improvements to address violence and other human rights violations against professional athletes affiliated to a local government; and report of sexual violence involving college student athletes. Considering challenges faced by student athletes who were forced to commute long distances due to closure of dormitories, the Commission expressed opinion to the relevant education office that dormitories should remain open during training periods or some alternative measures 64