Winning Design for the National Center for North Korean Human Rights / Capture from the Ministry of Unification Website

On Thursday, it was confirmed that the Ministry of Unification recently suspended the bidding process for selecting a construction company for the National Center for North Korean Human Rights, which was originally scheduled to break ground in the latter half of this year.

A government official explained that the bidding process, which had been ongoing since August, was temporarily put on hold last month as part of a comprehensive review of related projects.

In 2023, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration announced that it would establish a North Korean Human Rights Center in Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. With a budget of 26 billion KRW (about 18.6 million USD), the center was designed to inform the public and the international community about North Korea's severe human rights situation. Envisioned as a hub for North Korean human rights, the center was expected to include exhibition and experience halls, conference rooms, a memorial space for victims of human rights abuses, and community areas.

The original plan was to begin construction this month, complete it by November next year, and open the center in the first half of 2027. However, on September 24, the Ministry of Unification stated that North Korean human rights policy should focus on enhancing the actual rights of North Korean residents. They indicated that they are reviewing the center's name, functions, and overall role—suggesting a significant shift in the project's direction.

This decision aligns with the approach of the Lee Jae Myung administration to minimize provocation on human rights issues, a topic to which North Korea is particularly sensitive. The government has also reclassified its North Korean human rights reports for 2023 and 2024 from public to confidential, proceeding with related projects in a low-key manner.

Earlier, on September 4, the dedicated organization for the center's construction, known as the National North Korean Human Rights Center Establishment Promotion Team, was disbanded and transformed into a task force (TF).

Some speculate that the construction of the center may even be canceled altogether. When asked about this, a government official stated that there are various possibilities, adding that they have not yet reached a final decision on the direction it will take.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that the Ministry of Unification recently suspended the bidd …

'Forget the Human Right in North Korea' South Korea Halting the North Korean Human Rights