Seoul Metro Rejects Human Rights Commission Recommendation on 'Advertising Regulation Revision'

National Human Rights Commission building. Photo by Human Rights Commission

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission announced on the 23rd that Seoul Metro did not accept its recommendation to revise the advertising management regulations to avoid infringing on the freedom of expression of social minorities, including sexual minorities.

Previously, on October 20 last year, the Human Rights Commission recommended revising the checklist evaluation items of the Metro's advertising regulations by deleting or amending the clause "in cases where opinions conflict and social consensus has not been reached" and by making related checklist items as specific and clear as possible. In response to the recommendation, the Metro replied in January that it was revising the checklist by deleting the items "cases where opinions conflict and social consensus has not been reached" and "whether the advertiser is socially problematic," and adding new items such as "whether the matter is related to lawsuits or disputes" and "whether there is a risk of damaging the Metro's neutrality and public nature."

However, the Human Rights Commission judged that this response effectively did not accept the recommendation. The Commission stated, "If the checklist evaluation table is revised as described in the response, there is a concern that freedom of expression may be further restricted, contrary to the original intent of the recommendation." It further expressed regret, saying, "The Metro needs to make more active efforts to avoid infringing on the freedom of expression of social minorities, including sexual minorities."

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