Human Rights Commission Chair: "Guarantee Yoon's Right to Defense"... Still at Odds Despite Apology Vote [2026 Parliamentary Audit]

The Human Rights Commission voted to issue a public apology on October 12

Chair Ahn Changho abstained and stood by his position

"The chair and the majority of commissioners may hold different views"

Ahn Changho, chair of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, maintained his position despite the commission's decision to issue a public apology over its recommendation to guarantee former President Yoon Suk Yeol's right to defense. During a parliamentary audit, he was asked to apologize in his capacity as chair, but reiterated his position that the principle of due process must be upheld.

National Human Rights Commission Chair Ahn Changho walks away after handing his oath statement to House Steering Committee Chair Han Byeongdo following his witness oath at a parliamentary audit of the commission on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dongju.

At a parliamentary audit of the commission held by the National Assembly's Steering Committee on October 29, Assemblyman Jeon Yong-gi of the Democratic Party of Korea asked Ahn whether he still believed it was necessary to guarantee former President Yoon's right to defense. Ahn replied, "My position remains unchanged: regardless of what substantive punishment he may receive for his alleged crimes, due process must be observed throughout the proceedings."

Jeon noted that the commission had voted to issue a public apology for its recommendation to guarantee former President Yoon's right to defense and asked Ahn whether he was willing to apologize personally. Ahn replied, "Since the majority decided this, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to say that."

On October 12, 2026, the commission's plenary committee voted to issue a public apology for its recommendation, adopted in February 2025, to guarantee former President Yoon's right to defense. In February 2025, the commission stated that the Constitutional Court had not provided sufficient guarantees of the right to defense to former President Yoon's side.

When the apology was approved, Ahn abstained, saying that due process is a universal human right that must be observed by everyone without exception. No public apology has been issued to date.

Jeon pointed out, "What comes from the chair's mouth becomes the commission's position. The committee voted that a public apology was necessary, so shouldn't the chair say so?" Ahn explained that he believed procedures such as the Constitutional Court limiting the speaking time for former President Yoon's side to 30 or 15 minutes, or denying them the right to question certain witnesses, should be corrected. He added, "The chair's opinion and the opinions of the majority of commissioners may differ. A decision does not necessarily mean I have to follow it."

Ahn Chang-ho, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, drinks water before the start of a parliamentary audit of the commission at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju

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