South Korea

South Korea

Right	Section	Contents
Freedom of Association	History	Article 21 of Chapter II of The Constitution of the Republic of Korea covers Freedom of Association, with the specification that licensing of assembly and association shall not be recognized. The 1948 constitution was adopted upon independence from Japan. Constitutional History of the Republic of Korea. Constitution Net. 2018. https://constitutionnet.org/country/republic-korea Constitute Project. Constitution of Republic of Korea. 1948. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Republic_of_Korea_1987 Britannica. Division of Korea. https://www.britannica.com/place/Korea/Division-of-Korea
Freedom of Expression	History	Article 21 of South Korea’s 1948 Constitution is the first assertion of freedom of speech in the country’s independent history. The law also states that the right may not be expressed in a way that violates the honor of others or undermines morals and ethics. “Korea (Republic of) 1948 (rev. 1987).” Constitute. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Republic_of_Korea_1987
Freedom of Religion	History	The Constitution of the Republic of South Korea was ratified on July 12, 1948. Articles 11 and 20.1 grant religious freedom, equality, and prohibit religious discrimination. Article 20.2 declares a separation between church and state. The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. “Constitution of South Korea .” Last modified 1987. Accessed July 5, 2022. https://korea.assembly.go.kr:447/res/low_01_read.jsp?boardid=1000000035.
Freedom of the Press	History	Section 4 of the 1919 Provisional Republic of Korea’s Constitution first protected press freedom: “The citizens of the Korean Republic shall have religious liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of writing and publication, the right to hold public meetings and form social organizations and the full right to choose their dwellings and change their abode" (USC Libraries, "Constitution of the Korean Provisional Government, 1919" ). Today, Article 21 of South Korea’s 1948 Constitution protects press freedom: “All citizens shall enjoy freedom of speech and the press, and freedom of assembly and association" (Korea Legislative Research Institute, "CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA").
Privacy Rights	History	Under the first constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948, Articles 17 and 18 grant the right to privacy. Neither the privacy of a citizen nor communication may be infringed (Constitute Project, “Korea (Republic of) 1948 rev. 1987” ). https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Republic_of_Korea_ 1987? lang=en
Voting Rights and Suffrage	History	According to Article 24 of South Korea’s Constitution, all citizens (over the age of 19) are allowed to vote in elections. Article 67 states that the President of South Korea should be elected based on the principles of universal and direct suffrage. (Constitute Project, “South Korea’s Constitution of 1948 with Amendments through 1987” ).