Citizenship for Refugee

Korea Needs to Do More to Help Asylum Seekers

South Korea has become the second country in Asia after the Philippines to grant citizenship to a foreign refugee. A 38-year-old Ethiopian refugee obtained Korean citizenship last Friday. He is the first refugee to gain naturalization since the nation joined the U.N. Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees in 1992.

It is noteworthy that the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has praised Korea for granting citizenship to the Ethiopian. On Tuesday, UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming even described the action as a ``highly significant milestone in Asia.'' She noted that few countries in Asia have signed the 1951 refugee convention and even fewer extended citizenship to refugees. ``We would be encouraged if other Asian countries took inspiration from South Korea's example,'' she said.

The African man fled his country and arrived in Korea in 2001 after suffering from political persecution for his antigovernment activities. It took him three years to get refugee status in 2005 after applying for political asylum in 2002. And after nearly five years of life as a refugee here, he finally passed the naturalization test and was allowed to become a Korean citizen. ``Now, I am happy as I can enjoy freedom and peace as a citizen of a democratic country,'' he said on condition of anonymity.

The citizenship provision has brought joy not only to the Ethiopian but also other refugees vying for naturalization here. It has raised their hope to become members of Korean society, leaving behind their difficult life and unstable status in this Asian country. It could also boost the nation's efforts to reach out to those who escape from their home countries to avoid persecution for political reasons.

Now, the authorities need to do more to help refugees enjoy freedom and human rights, while providing better settlement programs for them. The refugee problem is one of the most important global issues. Therefore, the Seoul government must make more concerted efforts to address this through international cooperation. This matter is also closely related to the nation's immigration policy and its move toward a multicultural society with foreign residents accounting for 2.2 percent of the population.

We have to bear in mind that Korea has come under criticism that it enforces stricter regulations for the application of refugee status for asylum seekers, mainly from developing countries in Asia and Africa. The nation has so far granted refugee status to only 175 of 2,413 asylum seekers. It is also hard for those with refugee status to become Korean citizens. That's probably why the UNHCR spokesperson saw Korea's granting of its citizenship to the Ethiopian as an extraordinary action.

Now, it is necessary for the nation to accept more refugees to relieve their pains and advocate universal values both at home and abroad. Under the iron-fisted dictatorial rule in the 1970s and 80s, more than a few Koreans sought political asylum in the United States and European countries. Now, we have emerged as a nation embracing foreign refugees just as we shifted from a recipient of foreign aid to a donor. Thus, Korea ought to take more responsibility to help those in need.