ABOUT US
Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) is the world’s first NGO devoted exclusively to North Korean human rights, founded in 1996. Guided by the principles of non-profit, non-political, and non-religious work, NKHR is an organization that welcomes participation from anyone who believes in human rights. We have played a key role in informing both domestic and international audiences, as well as the United Nations, about human rights violations in North Korea, and in establishing the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in North Korea and the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI).
NKHR also supports North Korean refugees in China—especially women and children—by operating shelters and assisting their safe passage to third countries. In South Korea, we run education and resettlement programs for North Korean youth, helping them grow into leaders of a unified future. We also amplify the voices of families of the forcibly disappeared to the United Nations and work in solidarity with international organizations to bring North Korean human rights issues to the global agenda. Our work is made possible through the generous support of our members, charity events, and public grants.
NKHR runs five main programs:
human rights activities and campaigns
youth defector programs
education programs
defector rescue activities
publishing reports
NKHR actively engages in international cooperation efforts, including participation in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR). We continue to publish reliable research and reports on issues such as the rights of women and children in North Korea, political prison camps, and the practice of torture. These publications serve as valuable references for policy decisions made by the UN and governments around the world, while also contributing to raising human rights awareness both domestically and internationally. We strive to challenge negative perceptions of North Korean defectors and to build a more just society through education on the realities of human rights in North Korea. Guided by our motto, “Love to learn, and learn to love,” we work hand in hand with citizens to bring about meaningful change for the improvement of human rights in North Korea. Together, we will continue to create even greater change in the years ahead.
Some words from our founder: Chairman Benjamin Hyun Yoon
_Nero_AI_Image_Upscaler_Photo_Face.png)
Yoon Hyun, the founder of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR), also founded the Korean section of Amnesty International and dedicated his life in the 1970s and 1980s to defending human rights and democracy under a military dictatorship.
“When we first established NKHR, we walked a lonely path—one that few were willing to listen to or join. Yet over time, the North Korean human rights movement began to grow, both within Korea and internationally, uniting under the slogan 'Let Human Rights Shine on North Korea.' This phrase is embodied in our logo—a candle—symbolizing the belief that 'it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,' a well-known motto of Amnesty International. It reflects our own history of advancing the Amnesty movement here in Korea. We ask for your continued encouragement and participation as we join hands with the global community to bring the light of human rights to North Korea and to practice love for humanity.”