Korea International Religious Freedom Roundtable

The Korea International Religious Freedom Roundtable was launched in Seoul, South Korea in 2019. Protections for religious freedom are virtually nonexistent in North Korea. As noted in the 2014 UN Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, “There is almost complete denial of the right to freedom of thought conscience and religion as well as the right to freedom of opinion, expression, information and association.” The UN inquiry noted that the regime in North Korea continued to arrest, physically abuse, and execute individuals engaged in almost any religious activities. The inaugural roundtable included high-level defectors from North Korea and previously incarcerated pastors, university professors, government representatives and civic leaders. A second Korea International Religious Freedom Roundtable was held in 2021 as part of the virtual Global Peace Convention.