U.N. human rights chief to visit S. Korea next week for 1st time in 11 yrs

▲ In this EPA file photo taken Dec. 9, 2024, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk addresses the media during a year-end press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. (Yonhap)

UN rights chief-S Korea visit

U.N. human rights chief to visit S. Korea next week for 1st time in 11 yrs

SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk plans to visit South Korea next week to meet with government officials, civic activists and North Korean defectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.

Turk is scheduled to make a three-day visit to South Korea starting Tuesday, marking the first official trip to the country by a U.N. human rights chief in 11 years, according to the ministry.

The chief is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the U.N. human rights office, as Seoul seeks to play a greater global role in promoting the values of human rights and democracy, the ministry said.

During his stay, Turk is also scheduled to meet with the unification minister and other officials of relevant ministries, as well as human rights civic groups and North Korean defectors, it added.

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