Labor, Sexual Minorities, Refugees... These Groups Were Behind Socially Vulnerable People

Published 13 Feb.2025 07:44(KST)

Started as a Forum for Youth Discussions
A Place for Aspiring Legal Professionals to Experience Public Interest Work

"Even in this turbulent political climate, human rights violations against minorities in Korean society continue unabated. This means that Gonggam's activities cannot stop. At this year's Human Rights Law Camp, we want to share with you Gonggam's ongoing efforts amid chaos and upheaval."

The Public Interest Human Rights Law Foundation Gonggam's 'Human Rights Law Camp,' launched in 2008, marked its 30th session this year. Originally started as a forum for young people interested in law and human rights, the camp has grown from an initial 40 participants to over 70 attendees today.

Photo to aid understanding of the above article. Pixabay

16 Years of the Human Rights Law Camp

Gonggam, established in 2004 as Korea's first public interest lawyer organization, operates with full-time lawyers and activists aiming to improve the human rights of socially disadvantaged and minority groups through supporting public interest litigation, legal and institutional reforms, and training public interest lawyers. It is funded by citizen donations and is characterized by not charging legal fees.

In February 2008, Gonggam held the 1st Human Rights Law Camp with sponsorship from the law firm Hangyeol (now Class Hangyeol).

Focus on 'Minority Status' and the '10.29 Itaewon Disaster'

The 30th Gonggam Human Rights Law Camp, held on the 6th at the Hi Seoul Youth Hostel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, centered discussions on labor, sexual minorities, migrant refugees, and disaster human rights.

In the general lectures, Kim Yewon (43, 41st class), a lawyer at the Disability Rights Law Center, gave a lecture titled "Bravely Moving Forward with Our Inner Minority Status." Lawyer Kim emphasized, "The equality of migrants and refugees with natives, and the dignity of both contract and regular workers in the workplace are interconnected."

Jo Inyoung (34, 10th session), a Gonggam lawyer, in a lecture related to the "10.29 Itaewon Disaster," stated, "Government officials and politicians have politicized the victims' demands for truth-finding, packaging secondary harm as a political act," and argued, "Victims' rights to protection from secondary harm must be guaranteed, and the government should strictly punish politicians who commit secondary harm."

Jang Seoyeon (47, 35th class), a Gonggam lawyer, presented on the case of health insurance dependents for same-sex couples, saying, "Sexual minorities in Korean society have been excluded from marriage and family systems for far too long," and "The judiciary must fulfill its role as the last bastion protecting minorities."

Kang Eunhee (31, 10th session), a Gonggam lawyer, pointed out, "Korea surpassed 10 million elderly people in 2024 and is entering a super-aged society at the fastest rate in the world," and stressed, "We need to expand public nursing facilities to meet the increasing demand for elderly care."

Park Youngah (51, 33rd class), a Gonggam lawyer who lectured on the dilemma of migration, also conducted group discussions with participants regarding the labor rights of undocumented migrants.