Expanding Global Awareness of North Korean Human Rights
Through Program Tailored for Foreigners
Ministry of Unification launches North Korean Human Rights and
Security Global Young Leadership Program
February 28, 2025
The Ministry of Unification is initiating the North Korean Human
Rights and Security Global Young Leadership Program (NKGYL) to further
raise understanding of North Korean human rights and security among
foreigners and to secure broader international support.
The NKGYL is a program tailored to foreigners, offering online
English lectures and offline training sessions on issues concerning
North Korean human rights and security.
The program stems from the recognition that while the younger
generation around the world show keen interest in North Korean human
rights, sufficient English-language content remains limited.
The online lectures will be made available to all those interested
in North Korean human rights through the newly created YouTube channel
named “NKGYL.” The first lecture will be released on February 28,
followed by eight additional lectures produced last year as a pilot project.
To facilitate foreign viewers’ understanding of North Korean human
rights and security, lectures will be delivered in English (or with
English subtitles) by distinguished experts, including Minister of
Unification Kim Yung Ho, Chairman of North Korean Human Rights
Promotion Committee Lee Jung Hoon, former Ambassador for International
Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights Lee Shin-wha, member of the
UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee Baek Buhm-Suk, and
President of the National Institute for Unification Education Ko Young-hwan.
Participants who watch all online lectures and score higher than 80
on a quiz uploaded on Google Classroom will be awarded a completion
certificate issued by the Minister of Unification.
Additionally, to sustain interest in North Korean human rights,
security and unification, the Ministry will gift its English
publications to a number of participants selected through raffle draw.
Meanwhile, 10-20 foreigners who successfully complete the online
course will be selected for offline training sessions, held twice a
year, in conjunction with the Global Academy Unificaiton program at
the National Institute for Unification Education.
The Global Academy Unificaiton is a program tailored to
international students and foreign university students in South Korea,
featuring unification and security field visits, offline lectures and
experiential classes.
Through offline training, the program seeks to encourage networking
among foreigners and to expand interest and consensus on improving
North Korean human rights.
In cases where selected participants cannot attend offline training
due to residing overseas, alternative participation options such as an
online meeting with the Minister and/or Vice Minister of Unification
are being considered.
The Ministry of Unification anticipates that this program will help
the international community better understand the North Korean human
rights issue and expand international support for promoting the human
rights of North Korean residents as a universal value.
