HRNK hosted the 18th General Meeting of the International Parliamentarians’ Coalition for North Korean Refugees and Human Rights (IPCNKR) on Thursday, September 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at the DACOR Bacon House.

Greg Scarlatoiu, HRNK Executive Director, moderated the event.

Opening & Congratulatory Remarks
(9:00-9:30 a.m.)

• The Hon. Ha Tae-keung, IPCNKR Chairperson & ROK National Assembly
• The Hon. Damon Wilson, President & CEO, National Endowment for Democracy
• The Hon. Hwang Woo-yea, IPCNKR Honorary Chairperson & former ROK Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs

Session 1: Promotion & Protection of Freedom of Opinion & Expression in N. Korea
(9:30-10:40 a.m.)

• Jang Hyoek, former entrepreneur & defector from N. Korea
• Dr. Baek Jieun, Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center
• The Hon. Hong Suk-joon, ROK National Assembly
• Kwon Eun-kyoung, Executive Director, NK Net

Session 2: Crimes Against Humanity in N. Korea & Accountability I
(11:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.)

• The Hon. Nakagawa Masaharu, member of the House of Representatives, National Diet of Japan (remote)
• The Hon. Futori Hideshi, member of the House of Representatives, National Diet of Japan
• The Hon. Ji Seong-ho, ROK National Assembly
• Choi Sung-yong, head of the Abductees’ Family Union
• The Hon. Park Sun-young, former member, ROK National Assembly

Luncheon (12:20-1:30 p.m.)

Session 3: Crimes Against Humanity in N. Korea & Accountability II
(1:30-2:40 p.m.)

• Lee Rae-jin, older brother of Lee Dae-jun, a ROK official who was killed by the N. Korean military
• The Hon. Hwangbo Seung-hee, ROK National Assembly
• Aua Baldé, Vice-Chair, UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (remote)
• Dr. Ethan Hee-seok Shin, Legal Analyst, Transitional Justice Working Group

Closing Remarks
(2:40-3:00 p.m.)

• The Hon. Elizabeth Salmón, UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean human rights (remote)
• The Hon. Young Kim, U.S. House of Representatives (CA-39), prepared remarks delivered by The Hon. Ha Tae-keung
• The Hon. Ha Tae-keung