The National Assembly has passed the Human Rights Commission bill by a narrow margin. The vote was one hundred-37 in favor and one-hundred-33 against.

President Kim Dae-jung hailed the passage of the bill calling it the "fruit of long struggle and fervent aspiration of the Korean people who love freedom and democracy," The law takes effect six months later.
The law calls for setting up an 11-member Human Rights Commission, which will operate independently from government agencies.

The commission will investigate suspected infringements of human rights.