"The establishment of a Human Rights Commission has...

"The establishment of a Human Rights Commission has scope to be a great step forward for human rights protection and promotion in South Korea," Amnesty International said two days ahead of the Commission's inauguration. The Commission was promised by President Kim Dae-Jung in 1998, the 50th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Amnesty International hopes that the Commission will monitor, investigate and offer correctional measures regarding human rights concerns such as discrimination, cases of ill-treatment in prisons, the death penalty and conscientious objection.
It will also advise the government on international human rights treaties and integrating them into domestic law; conduct prison visits, give opinions in court, and conduct human rights education.
However, the Commission will not be allowed to investigate cases which are already under investigation by government authorities, Amnesty said.