By Kim Young-jin, Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Lee Jasmine of the ruling Saenuri Party is drafting a bill to provide thousands of undocumented foreign children with health insurance and other essential benefits.
"These children are officially non-existent, although they may have been born here, speak Korean and go to Korean schools," Lee, the first non-ethnic Korean lawmaker, told The Korea Times. "In some cases, they are repatriated to their parents' country."
"The main point (of the bill) is to allow them to be registered…so their fundamental rights are guaranteed," the Philippines-born lawmaker said.
She wants the bill passed this year so the benefits will be provided next year.
The current Children's Welfare Law offers a chance for children to be brought up "happily and safely" and without discrimination.
However, there is no provision to trigger benefits for undocumented children, the lawmaker said, although its revised version allows undocumented children to attend elementary and secondary schools.
In order to attend, they must present a rental agreement proving that they live in the area, or the "village head" must speak on their behalf.
High schools have discretion over enrollment of undocumented students.
Such students' records are not stored with the NEIS. If they lose their graduation certificate, they are at risk of having no record of their education, Lee said.
In one case in 2012, the justice ministry forcibly deported a 17-year-old boy from Mongolia, saying he was a non-registered immigrant. The boy had come with his father when he was an elementary school student.
The lack of status also makes setting up a bank or mobile phone account difficult, said Lee.
The rights of such children are an issue in other countries as well. In 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama implemented a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, allowing undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children to work legally.
With the number of foreign residents recently topping 1.5 million, or some 3 percent of the population, there have been increased calls to improve immigration and multicultural policies to reduce discrimination.
Children of foreign or bicultural households often face stigmatization in Korea, where some people emphasize a "pure bloodline."
The law would have long-term benefits, Lee said.
"If the government protects foreign children while they are living here, they could play a role in the diplomatic sector after they return to their home countries when they grow up."
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| Rep. Lee Jasmine |
"These children are officially non-existent, although they may have been born here, speak Korean and go to Korean schools," Lee, the first non-ethnic Korean lawmaker, told The Korea Times. "In some cases, they are repatriated to their parents' country."
"The main point (of the bill) is to allow them to be registered…so their fundamental rights are guaranteed," the Philippines-born lawmaker said.
She wants the bill passed this year so the benefits will be provided next year.
The current Children's Welfare Law offers a chance for children to be brought up "happily and safely" and without discrimination.
However, there is no provision to trigger benefits for undocumented children, the lawmaker said, although its revised version allows undocumented children to attend elementary and secondary schools.
In order to attend, they must present a rental agreement proving that they live in the area, or the "village head" must speak on their behalf.
High schools have discretion over enrollment of undocumented students.
Such students' records are not stored with the NEIS. If they lose their graduation certificate, they are at risk of having no record of their education, Lee said.
In one case in 2012, the justice ministry forcibly deported a 17-year-old boy from Mongolia, saying he was a non-registered immigrant. The boy had come with his father when he was an elementary school student.
The lack of status also makes setting up a bank or mobile phone account difficult, said Lee.
The rights of such children are an issue in other countries as well. In 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama implemented a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, allowing undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children to work legally.
With the number of foreign residents recently topping 1.5 million, or some 3 percent of the population, there have been increased calls to improve immigration and multicultural policies to reduce discrimination.
Children of foreign or bicultural households often face stigmatization in Korea, where some people emphasize a "pure bloodline."
The law would have long-term benefits, Lee said.
"If the government protects foreign children while they are living here, they could play a role in the diplomatic sector after they return to their home countries when they grow up."
