Article 5 (Organization of Commission)

(1) The Commission shall be comprised of eleven commissioners for human rights (hereinafter referred to as a "commissioner") including one president and three full-time commissioners.

(2) Four persons selected by the National Assembly (including two full-time commissioners), four persons nominated by the President of the Republic of Korea, and three persons nominated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, from among those persons who have professional knowledge and experience on the matters of human rights and are recognized to be capable of performing duties of human rights protection and promotion fairly and independently, shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Korea to be commissioners.

(3) The president of the Commission shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Korea from among the commissioners.

(4) The president and full-time commissioners of the Commission shall be appointed as public officials in political service.

(5) Four or more of the commissioners shall be women.

(6) In case the term of office of a commissioner expires, he/she shall continuously perform his/her duties until his/her successor is appointed.

Article 6 (Duties of President of Commission)

(1) The president of the Commission shall represent the Commission and exercise the overall control of the affairs thereof.

(2) In case the president of the Commission is unable to perform his/her duties for any inevitable reason, a full-time commissioner, whom the president designates in advance, shall act on behalf of the president.

(3) The president of the Commission may attend the National Assembly and state opinions on affairs falling under the jurisdiction of the Commission, and shall, if required by the National Assembly, attend thereat and make a report or reply.

(4) The president of the Commission may attend the State Council, present his/her opinion and recommend the Prime Minister to submit any bill related to affairs under the jurisdiction of the Commission (including the draft of the Presidential Decree concerning the enforcement of this Act).

(5) When the president of the Commission performs duties related to the budget of the Commission, he/she shall be deemed to be the head of a central government office under the provision of Article 14 of the Budget and Accounts Act.

  Article 7 (Term of Office of President and Commissioners)

(1) The term of office of the president and commissioners of the Commission shall be three years, but the consecutive appointment may be extended for one extra term only.

(2) In case the term of office of a commissioner expires or there occurs a vacancy, the President of the Republic of Korea shall appoint a successor within 30 days after the date of such expiration or vacancy.

(3) The term of office of the commissioner who is appointed as successor of a vacancy shall start anew. (The date of enforcement is November 25, 2001.)

Article 8 (Status Guarantee of Commissioner)

  A commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office against his/her will unless he/she is sentenced to imprisonment without labor or a heavier punishment:  Provided, That in case it is very difficult or impossible for him/her to perform his/her duties due to any physical or mental handicap, he/she may retire from his/her office by the resolution of consent of 2/3 or more of all commissioners.

Article 9 (Disqualifications for Commissioner)

  (1) A person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be disqualified for a commissioner:

  1. A person other than a citizen of the Republic of Korea;

  2. A person who falls under any subparagraph of Article 33 of the State Public Officials Act;

  3. A member of a political party;

  4. A person who is registered as a candidate in any such election as held under the Act on the Election of Public Officials and the Prevention of Election Malpractices.

  (2) In case a commissioner comes to fall under any subparagraph of paragraph (1) above, he/she shall, ipso facto, retire from his/her office.

Article 10 (Prohibition of Concurrent Offices of Commissioner)

  (1) A commissioner shall neither concurrently take the office falling under any of the following subparagraphs nor perform the duties thereof during his/her office:

  1. A member of the National Assembly or any local council;

  2. A public official of any other state organ or a local government (excluding a public official for education); and

  3. Other positions or affairs as determined by the rule of the Commission.

  (2) The commissioners shall neither join a political party nor participate in political activities.

Article 11 (Restriction on Retired Human Rights Commissioner's Taking Public Office)

For two years after a commissioner retires from his/her office, he/she shall neither be appointed to be a public official other than a public official for education nor run for a candidate in any election under the Act on the Election of Public Officials and the Prevention of Election Malpractices.

Article 12 (Subcommittees)

  (1) The Commission may establish subcommittees in order to have them perform parts of the affairs of the Commission.

  (2) A subcommittee shall be composed of three commissioners, and necessary matters concerning its affairs and operation shall be prescribed by the rule of the Commission.

Article 13 (Meeting Proceedings and Resolution Quorum)

(1) The president of the Commission shall preside over the meeting of the Commission and the resolution thereof shall, except as otherwise provided by this Act, require the consent of a majority of all the incumbent commissioners.

(2) The resolution of the meeting of a subcommittee shall require the attendance and consent of all the members thereof.

Article 14 (Publication of Proceedings)

The proceedings of the Commission shall be made public: Provided, That they may not be made public if deemed necessary by the Commission or a subcommittee.

Article 15 (Advisory Organ)

(1) The Commission may establish an advisory organ in order to ask advice on matters which are necessary for the performance of its duties.

(2) Necessary matters concerning the organization and operation of the advisory organ shall be prescribed by the rule of the Commission.

Article 16 (Secretariat)

(1) A Secretariat shall be established to deal with general affairs of the Commission.

(2) There shall be one Secretary General and necessary staff members in the Secretariat and the Secretary General shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Korea on the recommendation of the president of the Commission with the deliberation of the Commission.

(3) Public officials in GradeⅤor higher from among the staff belonging to the Secretariat shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Korea on the recommendation of the president of the Commission and those in Grade Ⅵ or lower shall be appointed by the president of the Commission.

(4) The Secretary General shall, under the direction of the president of the Commission, exercise the overall control of the affairs of the Secretariat and command and supervise the staff belonging thereto.

Article 17 (Establishment of Disciplinary Committee)

  (1) Under the Commission, there shall be established a disciplinary committee to resolve on a disciplinary action against the staff belonging to the Commission.

  (2) The composition, authority and deliberation procedure of the disciplinary committee, kinds and effects of disciplinary actions and other necessary matters therefore shall be prescribed by the rule of the Commission.

Article 18 (Organization and Operation of Commission)