GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN
DUE DILIGENCE FORUM
Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in High-Risk Supply Chains
An initiative of Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR)
WHEN
01 July, 2026 - 9:30am-16:45pm
7th Floor, State Room, Koreana Hotel
135, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
REGISTRATION
ABOUT
Global supply chains are becoming more complex, opaque, and vulnerable, with forced labor and serious human rights abuses still deeply embedded in high-risk networks. While human rights due diligence frameworks are evolving across jurisdictions, major gaps remain between policy commitments and effective implementation. These challenges are especially urgent in vulnerable regional contexts such as South Korea, where increasingly high-risk supply chains demand stronger and more coordinated domestic policy responses.
The Forum will present selected case studies from high-risk contexts, including North Korean forced labor, situated within a broader geopolitical landscape shaped by China, Russia, and war in Ukraine. Often hidden within legitimate trade and commercial structures, these cases expose persistent weaknesses in compliance, enforcement, and accountability systems, while highlighting how labor exploitation, enabling networks, and state-linked human rights abuses continue to operate within global markets.
By connecting case-based evidence with current regulatory and policy debates, the Forum aims to advance discussion in South Korea on practical pathways toward greater transparency, more effective due diligence, and stronger accountability in high-risk supply chains.
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English and Korean.
SPEAKERS
WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS
Mr. Suk Woo Kim
Chairman, Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights
Mr. Suk Woo Kim is Chairman of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR). A career diplomat and former Vice Minister of Unification, he played a key role in establishing South Korea’s legal and institutional framework for North Korean refugee protection, including Hanawon. He continues to support efforts to advance human rights, refugee protection, and accountability in North Korea.
EU Representative
Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea
The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea represents the EU in its diplomatic relations with South Korea. It works to strengthen political, economic, and trade cooperation, while also engaging on global challenges such as sustainable development, human rights, digital transformation, and climate action. The Delegation also facilitates dialogue between EU institutions and Korean stakeholders across government, business, and civil society.
Mr. Jörn Beißert
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Korea
Mr. Jörn Beißert serves as Chargé d’Affaires at the German Embassy in Seoul, where he leads the Embassy’s economic and climate policy work. A career diplomat with over 30 years of experience, he has held postings across Asia, Europe, and the United States, and previously served as Director of the China Division at the German Federal Foreign Office.
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Co-chair, All Parliamentary Group on North Korea, UK Parliament (Online)
Lord David Alton is a member of the UK House of Lords and a leading advocate for human rights and religious freedom. Formerly the youngest member of Liverpool City Council and later one of the youngest Members of Parliament, he was appointed a Life Peer in 1997. He chairs the British-DPRK All-Party Parliamentary Group, has visited North Korea, and has spent decades campaigning on issues including persecution, human rights abuses, and humanitarian crises worldwide.
Ms. Onny Jalink
Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Korea
Ms. Onny Jalink is Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Seoul. Prior to her posting in Korea, she served as the Netherlands’ Special Envoy for Connectivity and as Deputy Consul-General and Head of the Economic Department in Shanghai. She has also led regional rule of law initiatives in the Western Balkans and served as Acting Consul-General during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. James Heenan
Representative, UN Human Rights Office - Seoul
Mr. James Heenan has served as Representative of the OHCHR Office in Seoul since October 2022. Previously, he was Head of the OHCHR Country Office in the occupied Palestinian territory. With 25 years of experience in human rights, he has held leadership roles supporting UN human rights mechanisms, served as OHCHR Representative in Cambodia, and worked on issues including justice, development, HIV, and detention. Before joining the UN, he practiced law in the UK and Australia.
9:45 - 10:30
LAUNCH
10:30 - 10:40
Launch of the NKHR Ethical Trade & Transparency Hub
SESSION 1
11:00 - 12:45
High Risk contexts related to Forced Labor and Supply Chain Exposure
Dr. Joanna Hosaniak
Deputy Director, Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights
Dr. Joanna Hosaniak is Deputy Director General of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR), where she has worked since 2004. For over two decades, she has led advocacy, research, and engagement with the United Nations and governments on North Korean human rights and refugee issues. She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Sogang University and was named an honorary citizen of Seoul in 2013.
Mr. Luke Wickenden
Energy Analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)
Mr. Luke Wickenden is an Energy Analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), specializing in Europe-Russia energy policy, fossil fuel trade, and sanctions analysis. His work focuses on tracking Russian fossil fuel exports, assessing the effectiveness of sanctions, and developing policy recommendations to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and support the clean energy transition.
Mr. Sam Leon
Co-founder, Data Desk
Mr. Sam Leon is co-founder and partner of Data Desk, an investigative consultancy specializing in supply-chain analysis, trade intelligence, and data-driven investigations. Previously, he led the data investigations team at Global Witness, where he developed cross-border investigations into natural resources, corruption, and illicit finance. His work has supported major investigations published by leading international media outlets.
Ms. Anouk Wear
Researcher and Development Officer, China Labor Watch
Ms. Anouk Wear is a Researcher and Development Officer at China Labor Watch, where she investigates labor rights abuses, forced labor, human trafficking, and supply-chain risks linked to Chinese industries and overseas projects. She conducts research and advocacy with governments, the United Nations, and civil society organizations to strengthen corporate accountability and compliance with supply-chain and modern slavery laws.
Mr. Ilia Shumanov
Board Member, Transparency International Russia/Arctida
Mr. Ilia Shumanov is an investigator and analyst specializing in sanctions evasion, illicit financial flows, corruption, and supply-chain risks. He is Managing Partner at TriTrace Investigations and Co-Founder of Arctida, a research initiative focused on climate, commerce, and corruption in the Russian Arctic. Previously, he led Transparency International Russia and has over 15 years of experience in anti-corruption investigations and policy.
Ms. Jewher Ilham
Co-Chair, Coalition to End Uyghur Forced Labour
Ms. Jewher Ilham is Co-Chair of the Coalition to End Uyghur Forced Labour and Forced Labor Project Manager at the Worker Rights Consortium. She works to combat forced labor in global supply chains and advance stronger corporate accountability and worker protections. A prominent Uyghur human rights advocate, she has played a leading role in international efforts to address forced labor in the Uyghur Region.
SESSION 2
14:00 - 16:00
International Frameworks, Accountability and Domestic Policy Challenges
Ms. Mi-Gyoung Kim
Trade Officer, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea
Ms. Mi-Gyoung Kim is a Trade Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, where she has worked since 2014. She specializes in EU–Korea trade and economic relations and has extensive experience in international commerce, policy engagement, and cooperation between European and Korean stakeholders.
Mr. Ian J. Lynch
Executive Director, Integrity Initiatives International
Mr. Ian J. Lynch is Executive Director of Integrity Initiatives International (III), where he leads global efforts to establish the International Anti-Corruption Court. Specializing in corruption, kleptocracy, and accountability, he has written extensively on foreign policy and governance. His work is informed by firsthand experience managing girls’ education programs in Afghanistan and witnessing the impacts of grand corruption.
Ms. Sooyeon Lee
Non-Government Member, OECD Korean NCP
Ms. Lee Soo-yeon is a Non-Government Member of the OECD Korea National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct and is affiliated with the Institute for Far Eastern Studies. She contributes to the promotion of responsible business conduct and stakeholder engagement in line with OECD standards.
Mr. Taeseob Um
Partner Attorney, Ohkims Law
Mr. Taeseob Um is Managing Partner at OKIMS Law Firm, specializing in corporate risk management, regulatory compliance, litigation, and public policy. He advises companies in regulated industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and defense. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff and Legal Advisor at the National Assembly, with extensive experience in legislative and regulatory affairs.
Mr. Hyunmin Kim
ESG Team Lead, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mr. Hyunmin Kim is the Head of a team at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Sustainable Management Institute. He is a sustainability and ESG expert who researches domestic and international ESG issues and engages in policy consultation and collaboration with the government, the National Assembly, and other stakeholders.
Ms. Tinatin Tsertsvadze
Advocacy Adviser, Open Society Foundations (EU Sanctions policies)
Ms. Tinatin Tsertsvadze is an Advocacy Advisor at Open Society Foundations, specializing in EU foreign policy, sanctions, human rights, democracy, and EU enlargement. Based in Brussels, she has nearly 20 years of experience designing advocacy strategies and engaging EU institutions, civil society, and international partners on issues related to rule of law, democratic governance, and sanctions policy.
CLOSING REMARKS
16:00 - 16:45
Coffee & Networking/ Interviews with Guests
