Silent even to the Human Rights Commission... "Government must condemn China's forced repatriation"

Government Acknowledges Large-Scale Repatriation of North Korean Defectors from China
Silence from Relevant Ministries and No Response Plan from Human Rights Commission
Likely Considering Korea-China Summit at APEC
Taeyongho Warns "Hesitation May Lead to Defectors' Execution"

China forcibly repatriated hundreds of North Korean defectors immediately after the closing of the Hangzhou Asian Games, while the South Korean government has yet to present any countermeasures. Critics point out that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's 'value diplomacy,' which emphasizes human rights, is inevitably facing setbacks.

On the 17th, according to a response submitted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, when asked about plans for public responses such as a 'statement' regarding China's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors, the NHRC stated, "There are no such plans." Tae inquired about plans including ▲condemning China's forced repatriation and demanding a halt to further repatriations ▲urging North Korean authorities to stop human rights violations against defectors ▲requesting the summoning of the Chinese ambassador to South Korea for protest measures ▲raising the issue at the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council, but the NHRC denied all of these.

A woman being dragged away by Chinese police outside the Korean Consulate in Beijing, China. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Earlier, through missionary groups engaged in rescuing North Korean defectors, news emerged that 500 to 600 defectors residing in China were repatriated on the night of the 9th, the day after the Asian Games closing ceremony. Four days later, on the 13th, the government acknowledged the repatriation as a 'fact,' but no separate response has been issued.

The NHRC is an independent central administrative agency that, unlike the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related departments, does not receive direct orders from the president. The NHRC had issued a statement in June urging both South Korea and China to 'stop the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors residing in China' and to take 'human rights protection measures.' However, after the actual forced repatriation occurred, criticism has arisen that the NHRC remains silent on the repatriation incident.

A former senior diplomat commented, "The upcoming South Korea-China summit or the possibility of President Xi Jinping visiting South Korea will pose a significant dilemma," but added, "If international human rights organizations or NGOs begin to raise the 'South Korean responsibility' issue, the current administration's 'value diplomacy' will inevitably suffer damage in the international community." He further explained, "Because human rights and democracy are considered absolute domains where legitimacy takes precedence over pragmatism."

Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, is holding a placard urging the Chinese government to stop the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors in China.
[Photo by Tae Young-ho's office]

Lawmaker Tae Young-ho urged, "While hesitating due to concerns over diplomatic friction with China, North Korean defectors, who are considered our citizens under the constitution, will face execution," and called for "urgent government-level responses such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoning the Chinese ambassador to South Korea to strongly protest."

Meanwhile, 28 human rights organizations from South Korea, the United States, and Canada, including the North Korea Justice Coalition, which first publicized this repatriation incident domestically, held a rally around 2 p.m. in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, condemning China and urging the South Korean government to respond. The groups stated, "The government has never explicitly demanded that China stop the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors," and called on "Foreign Minister Park Jin to immediately urge China to halt the repatriations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.