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
9:45 - 10:15
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.
Rep. Yu Yong-weon
Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, People Power Party (Online)
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-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, UK Parliament
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.
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION
10:15 - 10:30
Introductory Presentation on Business and Human Rights Frameworks
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.
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 Europe-Russia Energy and Sanctions Analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent research organisation that focuses on revealing the trends, causes, and health impacts, as well as the solutions to air pollution. His current work aims to provide insights into the flow of Russian fossil fuel exports and offer strategic policy recommendations to strengthen the impact of sanctions and reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
Mr. Sam Leon
Co-founder, Data Desk
Mr. Sam Leon is co-founder of Data Desk, an investigative consultancy focused on climate and human rights risks in the commodities industry. He previously worked at Global Witness where he ran their digital investigations unit.
Ms. Anouk Wear
Researcher and Development Officer, China Labor Watch
Ms. Anouk Wear is a Researcher and Development Officer at China Labor Watch. She has been a researcher, analyst, and translator focused on topics related to international law and human rights in the China region. She obtained her BA in Human, Social, and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and her LLM in Public International Law from Leiden University.
Mr. Ilia Shumanov
Board Member, Transparency International Russia/Arctida
Ilia Shumanov is an anti-corruption expert, compliance specialist, and investigative researcher with more than 15 years of experience in governance, transparency, anti-money laundering, and public accountability. He is the founder of Arctida, Director of TriTrace Investigations and Board Member of Transparency International Russia. Previously, Ilia served as CEO of Transparency International Russia and has contributed to the development of anti-corruption legislation, compliance programs, and international advocacy initiatives.
Ms. Jewher Ilham
Co-Chair, Coalition to End Uyghur Forced Labour
Ms. Jewher Ilham is an author of two books and an advocate for the Uyghur community and for her imprisoned father, Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti. She works at the Worker Rights Consortium as Forced Labor Project Manager and serves as a Spokesperson for the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region.
Ms. Rachel Van Horn
Senior Program Officer for Eurasia, NED
Session Moderator
SESSION 2
14:00 - 16:00
International Frameworks, Accountability and Domestic Policy Challenges
Ms. Zoë Reiter
Director, Combating Corruption and Kleptocracy, NED
Session Moderator
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. Hyunjun Yang
Coordinator/Attorney at Law, Korean Transnational Corporations Watch
Mr. Hyunjun Yang has worked on issues related to corporate accountability, human rights, and environmental protection. He has participated in investigations of human rights and labor rights violations linked to Korean companies operating abroad and currently works with KTNC Watch to advance supply chain due diligence legislation in South Korea.
Ms. Tinatin Tsertsvadze
Advocacy Adviser, Open Society Foundations (EU Sanctions policies) (Online)
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.
Prof. Keon-Hyung Ahn
Kyonggi University (Committee Member, OECD RBC Korean NCP)
Professor Keon-Hyung Ahn is a Professor in the Department of International Trade at Kyonggi University and a Non-Governmental Committee Member of the Korean National Contact Point (NCP) for OECD Responsible Business Conduct (RBC). Beginning September 1, 2026, he will undertake a one-year research sabbatical as a Visiting Researcher at IREDIES at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and will also serve for six months as an External Guest at the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct.
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.
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.
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.
CLOSING REMARKS
16:00 - 16:45
Coffee & Networking/ Interviews with Guests
