South Korean President and UN Human Rights Commissioner Urge Abolition of Security Law

Roh Moo-Hyun, President of the Republic of Korea, has signalled his intention to abolish the country’s National Security Law. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour, welcomed moves to repeal the law. On 23 August, the National Human Rights Commission of South Korea recommended that the Government and National Assembly consider the abolition of the National Security Law. The 1948 law gave wide-ranging powers to security-related offices to investigate and detain anyone suspected of having any link to blacklisted organisations, the majority of which are perceived to be pro-North Korea.