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Investigations and Remedies for Discrimination Based on Religion [2008] KRNHRC 8 (1 January 2008)

Discrimination on the ground of religion refers to acts of favorably treating, excluding,
differentiating, or unfavorably treating a person or a group of people in many areas
including employment, on the basis of religion, without reasonable causes. "Religion"
includes not only established religions but also new religions and having no religion. In
addition, believing or not believing in a religion means that the person concerned should
have a certain degree of seriousness in believing or not believing.
Discrimination on the grounds of religion in employment

Lee, who wanted to work for University, and Cheon, who wanted to teach at
University, filed a complaint that the universities discriminated against them based on
religion, without reasonable causes, by allowing only Christians to apply for employment.
The respondents claimed that their workers or professors should be Christian because the
universities were founded on the Christian religion.

After an investigation, the Commission pointed out that the universities were higher
education institutions for public interest, unlike other religious organizations. It also noted
that it was not reasonable for the universities to recruit employees only based on religion,
without considering the characteristics of departments, disciplines, or curriculum, and that
religion could not be an essential qualification in university recruitment.
Therefore, the Commission recommended that the respondents stop recruiting workers
or professors based on religion and improve their recruitment practices.