"UN human rights czar questions role of Korean firms in Saudi Arabia," 29 June 2023

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently raised questions regarding the possible involvement of Korean companies in human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

In a letter addressed to the Korean government, the UN special rapporteurs on adequate housing, adequate standard of living and the issue of human rights and transnational corporations highlighted the recent alleged persecution of members of the Howeitat tribe, many of whom were evicted from their hometowns where Saudi Arabia is developing its NEOM Project.

[...] According to the UN and its special rapporteurs, a number of members of the Howeitat tribe have allegedly been sentenced to death or handed prison sentences for “their legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and expression, voicing their protest against the planned forced evictions under the NEOM Project.”

They also asked if the Korean government has provided the companies with any guidance on respecting human rights of throughout their operations, and whether they have prepared any grievance mechanisms to address the impact on human rights they have caused or contributed to.

Korea in a written response to the OHCHR on June 21 highlighted its existing guideline on human rights issued by its Ministry of Justice “to guide companies in implementing human rights due diligence and remedy procedures in accordance with international human rights standards.”

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