In the period 2013 to 2016 the South Korean police employed a range of practices in policing assemblies that fell short of international human rights law and standards. During this period, the police used their discretion under existing domestic law to ban, restrict and disperse a number of peaceful assemblies. In particular, the police exacerbated tensions by setting up bus barricades and at times resorted to excessive use of force.
With a change in government in May 2017 and the establishment of the Police Reform Committee shortly after, there are positive signs that the police are committed to reforming their approach to and practices in how they police assemblies. However, until these changes are legislated into law and written into internal police guidelines, there is the real risk that the police will return to their former practices.
This briefing details those areas where the police failed in their mission to facilitate, protect and promote freedom of peaceful assembly between 2013 and 2016. It also makes recommendations to the police and lawmakers on how to ensure these recent improvements are consolidated into law and practice.
