However not only such people are subject to abuse. In a recent case, protesting teachers holding a peaceful demonstration to demand enforcement of a collective bargaining agreement and normalization of public education were arrested, detained, strip-searched and forced to endure other humiliations. While strip-searching is technically legal, it is only so in cases where the search is relevant to the crime, which it was not in this instance. Prevention of human rights violations requires just and fair punishment of perpetrators and compensation of victims. In this regard, Korea has a long and difficult way to go until it solves the problems of impunity.
Many people suffer in the aftermath of torture.
They go to mental hospitals and commit suicide. In South Korea there are few doctors and hospitals able to treat people in the aftermath of torture. Medical jurisprudence to decide whether or not people are suffering due to torture has not been developed, so it is hard to win a suit in civil action, although in at least one recent case the plaintiff was successful. In most cases police accused of torture have been released without charge or for lack of evidence. In 1999 Lee Gun-ahn, a notorious torture specialist, gave himself up.