South Korea is pushing for a consular agreement with Beijing as part of its measures to step up protection of its citizens living overseas amid controversy over alleged torture of a North Korea human rights activist during his detention in China.

The Foreign Ministry said Thursday it plans to speed up efforts for the pact to facilitate consular access to Koreans in Chinese custody.

“We see the agreement as contributing to better protection of our citizens in China,” spokesman Cho Tai-young said at a regular press briefing.

The two countries initiated relevant discussions in 1993 upon China’s suggestion. But since the first round of talks in 2002, only three more meetings have taken place due apparently to their different views in subjects related to arrest, detention and notification. The last negotiations were held in December.

The renewed push comes after Kim Young-hwan, a North Korea human rights activist, accused Chinese investigators of torture during the early days of his 114-day confinement. He was freed and deported on July 20 along with his three colleagues.

While in detention, Kim said he was tortured with electricity, beaten on the face, deprived of sleep for a week and forced into 13 hours of daily labor.

Beijing denies any illicit practices.

Kim’s supporters lashed out at the Seoul government for its initially tepid response to the case. He first met with South Korean consuls on April 26, 29 days after his arrest, and told them about the abuse on June 11. 

The ministry demanded that China reinvestigate the alleged torture after he returned.

With its hardening line, the ministry promised to assist Kim and his supporters’ plans to take the case to United Nations agencies.

It will also direct its consuls in China to interview all 625 Korean inmates in the country to investigate whether they were abused.

“The plan is aimed at taking proper action in light of recent detailed statements about human rights violations (by China) after looking into other cases,” Cho said.

“I’d like to note that it is not true that the government is keeping a low posture toward China, as some claim. Who is the counterpart is not in our consideration. We’ll demand what should be demanded and fix what should be fixed, based upon principle.”

Meanwhile, Seoul’s National Human Rights Commission on Thursday officially expressed its remorse and urged China’s fact finding and follow-up steps. Its officials met with Kim on Monday to learn about his detention and suspected torture.

The agency is reportedly seeking international backing such as through a U.N. body or chairman’s statement.

The Committee for the Release of North Korean Human Rights Activist Kim Young Hwan said last week that it filed requests in May and plans an additional appeal for an investigation into Kim’s confinement with the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, and the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva.

Facing Beijing’s denial, Kim said he will receive a complete medical checkup to secure evidence to back his claim.

Hwang Woo-yea, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, said he and other lawmakers are scheduled to meet with Kim on Friday and hear about the abuse.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)