Civil and religious rights groups in South Korea have urged the president, Lee Myung-bak, and his office to stop compromising the independence of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). Andrew Kim Duck-jin, secretary-general of the Catholic rights committee, a member of NHRCK-Watch, a coalition of 91 groups, stressed that the essence of the national human rights committee is 'independence'. He said the government has considered it as one of its affiliated arms. NHRCK-Watch also demanded the immediate resignation of NHRCK chairman Hyun Byung-chul, alleging that he became the head of the committee with support from the state authorities. KO13972.1649