Seoul scraps plans for North Korean human rights museum in favor of peace center



News Seoul scraps plans for North Korean human rights museum in favor of peace center Decision aligns with Lee Jae-myung’s focus on inter-Korean coexistence but raises concern about policy inconsistency Jooheon Kim \| Joon Ha Park November 14, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON The model design for the National Center for North Korean Human Rights and ROK Unification Minister Chung Dong-young \| Image: ROK Unification Ministry, edited by NK News South Korea is moving to scrap a North Korean human rights center planned under the previous Yoon administration, instead looking to build a “Center for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula” (한반도평화공존센터), Seoul’s unification ministry confirmed on Thursday. The ministry told NK News it has halted the 26 billion won ($20 million) project in Seoul’s western district and is consulting with the finance ministry on a budget plan to rename and overhaul the existing construction site. The planned center was part of a three-year road mapto promote North Korean human rights that the Yoon administration proposed in Dec. 2023. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Seoul scraps plans for North Korean human rights museum in favor of peace center

Decision aligns with Lee Jae-myung’s focus on inter-Korean coexistence but raises concern about policy inconsistency

Jooheon Kim | Joon Ha Park November 14, 2025

Seoul scraps plans for North Korean human rights museum in favor of peace center

The model design for the National Center for North Korean Human Rights and ROK Unification Minister Chung Dong-young | Image: ROK Unification Ministry, edited by NK News

South Korea is moving to scrap a North Korean human rights center planned under the previous Yoon administration, instead looking to build a “Center for Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula” (한반도평화공존센터), Seoul’s unification ministry confirmed on Thursday.

The ministry told NK News it has halted the 26 billion won ($20 million) project in Seoul’s western district and is consulting with the finance ministry on a budget plan to rename and overhaul the existing construction site.

The planned center was part of a three-year road mapto promote North Korean human rights that the Yoon administration proposed in Dec. 2023.

About the Authors

Jooheon Kim

Jooheon Kim is a Correspondent at NK News. He previously worked at Aju News Corporation where he covered South Korea's economy and tech sectors, K-pop and inter-Korean relations.

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Joon Ha Park

Joon Ha Park is a correspondent at Korea Risk Group. He has previously written on issues related to the two Koreas at The Peninsula Report, and appeared on ABC News Australia, Deutsche Welle and Monocle Radio. He specializes in offering in-depth analyses of South Korea’s defense policy, security relations and domestic politics for Korea Pro.

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