Expanding Global Awareness of North Korean Human Rights Through Program Tailored for Foreigners

Ministry of Unification launches North Korean Human Rights and Security Global Young Leadership Program

February 28, 2025

The Ministry of Unification is initiating the North Korean Human Rights and Security Global Young Leadership Program (NKGYL) to further raise understanding of North Korean human rights and security among foreigners and to secure broader international support.

The NKGYL is a program tailored to foreigners, offering online English lectures and offline training sessions on issues concerning North Korean human rights and security.

The program stems from the recognition that while the younger generation around the world show keen interest in North Korean human rights, sufficient English-language content remains limited.

The online lectures will be made available to all those interested in North Korean human rights through the newly created YouTube channel named “NKGYL.” The first lecture will be released on February 28, followed by eight additional lectures produced last year as a pilot project.

To facilitate foreign viewers’ understanding of North Korean human rights and security, lectures will be delivered in English (or with English subtitles) by distinguished experts, including Minister of Unification Kim Yung Ho, Chairman of North Korean Human Rights Promotion Committee Lee Jung Hoon, former Ambassador for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights Lee Shin-wha, member of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee Baek Buhm-Suk, and President of the National Institute for Unification Education Ko Young-hwan.

Participants who watch all online lectures and score higher than 80 on a quiz uploaded on Google Classroom will be awarded a completion certificate issued by the Minister of Unification.

Additionally, to sustain interest in North Korean human rights, security and unification, the Ministry will gift its English publications to a number of participants selected through raffle draw.

Meanwhile, 10-20 foreigners who successfully complete the online course will be selected for offline training sessions, held twice a year, in conjunction with the Global Academy Unificaiton program at the National Institute for Unification Education.

The Global Academy Unificaiton is a program tailored to international students and foreign university students in South Korea, featuring unification and security field visits, offline lectures and experiential classes.

Through offline training, the program seeks to encourage networking among foreigners and to expand interest and consensus on improving North Korean human rights.

In cases where selected participants cannot attend offline training due to residing overseas, alternative participation options such as an online meeting with the Minister and/or Vice Minister of Unification are being considered.

The Ministry of Unification anticipates that this program will help the international community better understand the North Korean human rights issue and expand international support for promoting the human rights of North Korean residents as a universal value.