Human Rights Commission: "Holding the Nurse Assistant Exam Only on Saturdays Constitutes Religious Discrimination"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The National Human Rights Commission has determined that designating the national examination day for nursing assistants on Saturdays constitutes discrimination based on religion.

The Human Rights Commission reviewed a complaint filed by complainant A, who argued that members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church cannot take exams on Saturdays, and made this determination, recommending that the exam days for nursing assistants be diversified, the commission announced on the 22nd.

Complainant A filed the complaint with the Human Rights Commission, stating that because the nursing assistant exam is only held on Saturdays, B, a Seventh-day Adventist who cannot engage in secular activities from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, is unable to take the exam.

The exam administration argued, "Saturday exams are held to ensure stable securing of venues and exam personnel such as supervisors," and "local governments oppose diversifying exam days, making changes difficult." However, the Human Rights Commission judged that compared to the purpose of the respondent institution to smoothly secure venues and personnel, the disadvantage suffered by B, who would have to give up the nursing assistant profession forever, is greater.

Furthermore, the commission stated, "Among the exams conducted by the respondent institution, there are already exams held on weekdays or Sundays," and judged that "holding all nursing assistant exams only on Saturdays, thereby preventing the victim from taking the exam, constitutes discriminatory conduct infringing on the right to equality based on religion."

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