HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE APPOINTS NEW LEADERS

On June 13, at a well-attended celebration worship, new members joined the

leadership of the NCCK’s Human Rights Centre. Rev. Huh Won Bae was installed as

member of the Board of Directors of the Centre, and Rev. Jeong Jin Woo was

installed as new director.

Rev. Jeong has been active in the human rights scene in Korea since the days of

Student Demonstrations and the struggle for democratization against dictatorship. He

reflects on the work of Human Rights in Korea now. It was so simple in former days,

he says, when human rights simply meant working against dictatorship. Additionally,

in those days, the NCCK was the only agent for Human Rights work. Today, when

there are many Korean NGO’s dealing with the protection of human rights, what is the

role of the Human Rights Centre?

Rev. Jeong wants to see the Centre active in the education of congregational

members of NCCK member churches in human rights issues. There are new issues

emerging in society in these days, for instance, rights of those with differing sexual

orientations and rights of the handicapped. It is important for the church to be

involved in learning about the many issues of human rights as they impact people.

Rev. Jeong also sees that the NCCK Human Rights Centre has an opportunity to play

a role that the other Human Rights associations in our society today cannot. For

instance, in the case of the Ssangyong Motors workers, there are many groups that

are involved in acting for their rights as labourers. However, as many people have

died, many by suicide, after being laid off by Ssangyong, who is there who can bring

comfort and support to them? The Human Rights Centre can minister to the victims of

human rights abuse.

The third direction Rev. Jeong wants the Human Rights Centre to go is in

involvement in our Asian context. He wants NCCK to be aware of human rights

abuses suffered by sisters and brothers throughout Asia, and encourage involvement

and healing of these abuses.

Music was brought to the service by Peace Tree Choir, the sermon, preached by

Rev. Lee Hae Dong, was entitled ‘Human Rights and God’s Creation’, and greetings

were brought by the Democratic Member of the National Assembly, Moon Jae In, and

executive director of the Human Right Foundation 'Human', Park Rae Kun.