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| Actor Jun Woo-sung speaks at the 2018 Jeju Forum special session on refugees at the Jeju International Convention Center, Tuesday. Jung criticized radicals who called for the repatriation of 486 Yemeni refugees on the scenic southern island, for having double standards regarding refugees. / Courtesy of Jeju Forum |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Actor Jung Woo-sung expressed worries about radicals who called on fellow citizens to join them to pressure the government to repatriate 486 Yemeni asylum seekers on the southern scenic island of Jeju back to their war-torn home country.
Speaking to the 2018 Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, Tuesday, Jung said the Yemenis would become victims of the war if they were sent back to their chaotic country from which they fled in search of hope and a better life.
"We, South Koreans, have consistently expressed worries about the repatriation of North Koreans who escaped from their home country," he said. He was talking about the Chinese government's notorious practice of repatriating North Korean escapees if they are caught in China.
"(It's ironic that) some of us call for the repatriation of the Yemenis," the actor said. "If they are sent back home, they will face a detrimental situation which could cost them their lives in the worst-case scenario."
Jung made the remarks at the special session about refugees, "Global Refugee Crises: What We Need to Know," at the Jeju International Convention Center on the first day of the three-day annual peace forum.
Jung, who has served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since 2015, has been vocal on the Yemeni refugees since the issue surfaced earlier this month.
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, June 20, Jung called for the Korean public to show sympathy with the Yemeni refugees. Posting a photo featuring the Rohingya people at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh on his Instagram account, the actor wrote he visited there last year and saw hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people living in uncertainty and waiting to return home to Myanmar. The Rohingya fled to neighboring countries to avoid persecution in Myanmar.
Jung encouraged the Korean public to take the refugee issue seriously as the nation is divided over the Yemeni refugees. Some radicals paint the Yemenis as terrorists in the guise of refugees, while religious leaders and some humanitarian workers called for the government to help the displaced people with proper care and assistance.
Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong said the debate has become consuming as the proponents and opponents became emotional, noting their clashing views would do little to help resolve the issue.
Won asked for actor Jung to play a role to unite the nation on the refugee issue and stressed the role of high-profile figures such as him is critical.
"Regarding the Yemeni refugees, it's important we build a system to cope with possible security woes or social problems," he said. "I regret the nation is divided and the pros and cons debate has been excessive and became emotional. We need people like Jung who can play a role to narrow their differences to reach a consensus."
