The National Human Rights Commission has postponed a vote on a proposal to revoke last year's recommendation to guarantee defense rights for Yoon Suk Yeol during his impeachment trial, halting discussions without reaching a decision.
Chairman Ahn Chang-ho announced on September 14 during the 15th plenary session held in Jung-gu, Seoul, that the proposal would be reintroduced after consulting with third-party experts.
In his opening remarks, Ahn explained that the recommendation to ensure defense rights was intended to prevent issues such as the invasion of the Western District Court and subsequent detentions.
He stated, "The plenary's expression of opinion and recommendation to uphold the core principle of due process in the Constitution should be respected in a rule-of-law state like South Korea, and cannot be discarded or subject to public apology."
Commissioners Han Seok-hoon and Kang Jeong-hye expressed that revoking the past decision, given that relevant agencies have already accepted the commission's recommendations, would be illegal as it aims for an impossible legal effect.
Conversely, the commissioners who proposed the motion argued that the previous decision was flawed in light of the commission's independence and role, asserting that revocation and an apology are necessary.
The proposal was introduced by five commissioners, including Lee Suk-jin and Oh Young-geun, on July 10 and was formally presented after a two-hour debate that ended in a majority vote.
On February 10 of last year, the commission voted 6-4 in favor of recommending that investigative agencies guarantee Yoon Suk Yeol's defense rights during his impeachment trial.
Commissioner Oh Young-geun criticized the previous decision, stating, "It appears to be a form of subtly endorsing insurrection at that time. Was it human rights-oriented for the commission to emphasize the defense rights of someone accused of insurrection during such a serious period?"
Commissioner Jo Suk-hyun also claimed that the previous decision undermined the commission's responsibilities during a constitutional crisis and impeachment situation, arguing that it reduced the national human rights institution to a defense agency for President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Lee Suk-jin emphasized the need for an apology to the public, stating, "I believe the past decision was wrong in light of the commission's role and independence, and I will not maintain it as the current position of the commission."
After about 80 minutes of discussion following the proposal, Ahn decided to consult experts and reintroduce the motion, halting the voting process.
The five commissioners who proposed the motion, along with Commissioner Kim Min-mun-jeong, protested Ahn's decision, claiming it was an attempt to avoid a vote and insisted that discussions should continue.
Ahn suggested that both the pro and con sides consult experts and process the proposal within a month, but opposing commissioners insisted on a vote that day.
During the discussions, there were heated exchanges regarding the selection of expert opinions and the chairman's authority to conduct proceedings.
Ultimately, Ahn declared the session adjourned at 7:09 PM, and five commissioners who opposed the motion left the meeting.
Following the meeting, Lee Suk-jin, Oh Young-geun, Jo Suk-hyun, So Ra-mi, and Kim Min-mun-jeong held a back briefing to criticize Ahn's adjournment.
They claimed it was a unilateral tactic to avoid a likely successful vote and to escape historical accountability for opposing votes. They expressed their intention to trust Ahn's promise to conduct a vote on the proposal on either September 28 or October 12.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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