Refugee seekers surge in 1st half

By Lee Hyo-sik

The number of non-Koreans seeking refugee status here is expected to hit a new record-high this year, as more and more displaced people from Central and South Asia apply.

A total of 386 foreign nationals sought refugee status from the government in the first six months of the year, the NANCEN, or Center for Refugee Rights, said Tuesday, citing data from the Ministry of Justice.

Of the 386 refugee seekers, 90 were Pakistanis, followed by Kyrgyzstanis at 82 and Afghans at 13.

In 2007, a record-high 717 non-Koreans came to settle as refugees in Korea, with large numbers of Nepalese fleeing civil war in their home country. In 2010, 423 foreigners filed for refugee status, up from 324 a year earlier.

``The continuing violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan resulting from armed conflicts between the Taliban and U.S. military forces pushes many to leave their home countries. Some of them came here in search of a better life,’’ said Choi Won-geun, program manager at NANCEN, or Center for Refugee Rights.

Elsewhere, the political turmoil gripping Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian nations has worsened the global refugee crisis.

``It seems that more foreign nationals will come here by the year’s end, given the continuing civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. But I don’t think Korea is properly prepared to deal with them,’’ he said.

Korea joined an international convention to protect refugees in 1992 and the first group of refugee seekers arrived in 1994. It wasn’t until 2001 when the country granted refugee status for the first time.

According to the Korea Immigration Service, a total of 3,301 non-Koreans sought refugee status from the government as of June this year. Of them only 250 were recognized as refugees and permitted to stay.

Nearly 700 foreign nationals are currently waiting for the government to decide their status.

Choi said the government is unwilling in most cases, adding the evaluation process often takes much longer than necessary.

``Korea has a long way to go to catch up with other advanced countries. The United States grants refugee status to about 33 percent of applicants. The ratio for Canada is even higher at 40 percent. It shows how uncaring we are toward the plight of displaced people across the globe,’’ the program manager said.

He then said those waiting meanwhile struggle to make ends meet, due to a lack of state support.

`` Given the poor living conditions for refugees, we should expand legal, financial and other support to refugee status seekers. As the world’s first to become a donor country from once an aid recipient, Korea should actively assume its international responsibility by providing shelter and other necessities to refugees,’’ he said.