The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'

  • 3

    S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high

  • 5

    K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran

  • 7

    BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'

  • 9

    Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory

  • 11

    Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation

  • 13

    Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party

  • 15

    Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.

  • 17

    LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco

  • 19

    An American high school experience in Seoul

  • 2

    Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China

  • 4

    China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

  • 6

    Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer

  • 8

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 10

    Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z

  • 12

    The ethical issues of AI: fighting the right battles

  • 14

    Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy

  • 16

    PHOTOSHarvest season arrives

  • 18

    Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars

  • 20

    Russian FM to visit Pyongyang next month as follow-up to Kim-Putin summit

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, September 26, 2023 | 15:53
--------------
Migrant children's right to study still unprotected
Posted : 2012-11-19 17:03
Updated : 2012-11-19 17:03
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link

By Lee Tae-hoon

The recent deportation of Kim Min-woo, a 17-year-old Mongolian high school boy who had no state documentation, has raised the question as to whether children of illegal migrants should be denied the same right to attend school as Korean citizens.

Public opinion is clearly divided over the issue as seen from the host of comments netizens made after reading news articles on the Mongolian kid's forceful deportation.

A netizen with the screen name "Kwon" was bewildered to find out that his schoolmate got into trouble after volunteering to interpret for a local police office when a group of Mongolian migrants were taken into custody for a fight with Korean students over racial slurs.

"He used to attend the same school I attend. His Korean was so fluent that I hardly noticed that he was a Mongolian," he said.

Kwon also expressed strong displeasure over the police's handcuffing of his schoolmate and deporting him without giving sufficient thought over the future of the helpless migrant student.

Another schoolmate with the screen name, "Dani," left a short, but touching message on an online message board, "I miss you... my friend."

Many others were also sympathetic about Kim, arguing that he could have been a valuable asset to Korea, which suffers from a shortage of multilingual speakers as the country's economy becomes increasingly dependent on the global market.

"He has lived in Korea for 10 years and received formal education from the very first year in elementary school," a netizen identified as "Yoon" said. "You should be ashamed of yourself for kicking out a young student overnight because of having no legal documents."

Though many of Kim's classmates and those advocating school children's right to study regardless of legal status voice their strong disapproval over the Mongolian boy's sudden deportation, many other netizens supported the police's controversial action.

"Human rights should not be guaranteed to illegal migrants," a netizen identified as "comm" said. "If the country bends a rule to one person, law and order will be seriously compromised."

Another netizen, "mani," argued that Kim should be thankful to Korea for allowing him stay for 10 years without due legal documents.

"He will have trouble anyway in adjusting in Mongolia whether he leaves now or goes back to his home country after finishing his high school education," the netizen said.

"Do you really believe that it is appropriate for Korea to issue a citizenship and let him live forever here?"

"Pete" claimed that Korea should learn a lesson from the United States which he claims mercilessly cracks down on illegal migrants whether they are students or not.

"The United States strictly implements the law on illegal aliens whereas Korea is too lenient on them," he said.

Those supportive of Kim's deportation, however, appear to be unaware of the fact that Korea has adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which calls for all youngsters under the age 18 to be given equal access to education regardless of legal status.

The United States, one of two UN members not to ratify the CRC, has stopped deportations of illegal immigrants who were brought into the country before they turned 16.

Emailleeth@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
14 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey 4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey
2Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z
3[PHOTOS] Harvest season arrives PHOTOSHarvest season arrives
4K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action
5Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts
6LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system
7[EXCLUSIVE] Lawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees EXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees
8SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea
9Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest
10Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data
Top 5 Entertainment News
1K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
2BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
3Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK
4[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
5[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group