Human rights in South Korea

Politics of South Korea
Government Constitution of South Korea Law Human rights
Legislature National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo (I) Deputy Speaker Kim Young-joo (P) Deputy Speaker Chung Jin-suk (P) Members
Executive President of South Korea Yoon Suk-yeol (P) Prime Minister of South Korea Han Duck-soo (I) State Council Administrative divisions
Judiciary Supreme Court of Korea Chief Justice Jo Hee-de Constitutional Court of Korea President Lee Jong-seok
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Human rights in South Korea are codified in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which compiles the legal rights of its citizens. These rights are protected by the Constitution and include amendments and national referendum.^[1] These rights have evolved significantly from the days of military dictatorship to the current state as a constitutional democracy with free and fair elections for the presidency and the members of the National Assembly.^[2]

South Korean democracy has legally protected rights for political, civil and socio-economic individuals, although there are limitations and even discrimination against certain groups. These groups are certified as at-risk groups and comprise women, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons (LGBT) and racial and ethnic minorities such as refugees and migrants.^[3]

According to the Freedom in the World index, South Korea is considered to have a high human rights record in the category for human freedom in civil and political rights, with 83 points out of the 100 points in 2024.^[4]

In the Constitution, the citizens are given the rights of freedom of speech, press, petition and assembly for its nationals.^[1]

The National Security Act criminalizes speech in support of communism or North Korea; though it is unevenly enforced and prosecutions decline every year, there are still cases brought annually.^[5]