Following the life imprisonment sentence given to former President Yoon Seok-yeol for accusations of insurrection, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) union has publicly demanded that An Chang-ho, the chairperson, clarify his position. The union criticized An for having supported a controversial recommendation that allowed Yoon's defense rights, which they argue undermined the credibility of public authority and promoted insurrectionist narratives. They contend that An's stance on Yoon's actions is deeply troubling and is in opposition to the broader societal understanding of the illegality of martial law.

The NHRC union highlighted how, during a critical decision last February about protecting Yoon's defense rights, An played a decisive role, making groundless arguments that favored Yoon's supporters while dismissing the illegality of any potential government actions during the martial law. Since the meeting, An has maintained that his position and the commission's past documents are free from any fault, an assertion that the union challenges based on the recent court ruling.

The court's first-instance ruling clearly stated that the martial law declaration constituted a legal insurrection. The NHRC union pointed out that while An had altered a prepared statement to omit references to the unconstitutionality of the martial law, he continued to advocate for Yoon's position. The growing discontent within the NHRC suggests that An's tenure could come under scrutiny as the implications of the court's decisions resonate deeply within the human rights discourse in South Korea.