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'The Terminal' in real life? Guinean man spends 150 days in airport limbo
A Guinean man who stayed for five months at Gimhae International Airport steps outside the airport, Friday. Courtesy of Hong Hye-in
By Park Ung
A Guinean man who says he fled political persecution won his first legal victory in Korea, securing the right to undergo a full refugee screening process and ending a five-month ordeal that left him stranded at an airport in the southern port city of Busan after being denied entry into the country.
The Busan District Court on Wednesday ordered the head of Gimhae Airport Immigration Office to overturn a previous decision that had deemed the man ineligible for refugee screening.
When a non-Korean applies for refugee status upon arrival at a Korean airport or seaport, authorities first interview the applicant to decide if there are sufficient grounds for a full review, rather than starting the screening process immediately.
In May, the Ministry of Justice ruled that the Guinean man in his 30s — who arrived in April and whose name is not being publicly released — was ineligible for refugee screening. He had since been confined in the airport’s holding facility for those denied entry.
A holding facility where a Guinean man stayed for five months at Gimhae International Airport is seen in this September file photo. Courtesy of Hong Hye-in
“Guinea is a very dangerous place for political activists. I have been jailed twice myself,” the man, a member of Guinea’s opposition Liberal Democratic Movement party, told The Korea Times.
“I decided to come to Korea after recently seeing its government change through peaceful protests, believing its democracy was strong and that I could find protection here,” he said.
Guinea is ruled by a military junta led by Mamady Doumbouya, which has suspended several opposition parties and curbed protests and media freedoms.
Believing he would be granted refugee status upon arrival, the man said he was shocked when his application was rejected before screening.
“The hardest part over the past five months was the monotony — no going outside, no communication and no proper meals,” he said.
Human rights activists hold a press conference after filing a petition over alleged human rights violations against a Guinean asylum seeker in front of the Busan office of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in Yeonje District, Busan, Thursday. Yonhap
Hong Hye-in, a lawyer representing the man, criticized the ministry’s screening standards as unreasonable and lacking in transparency.
“Decisions on whether to refer a case for full refugee screening must be made within seven days of the application,” Hong said. “It is difficult for someone who has just arrived in Korea after fleeing political persecution to collect and submit enough evidence in that short time.”
She added that the system was intended to screen out only those without clear grounds, allowing most applicants to proceed to a full review. However, she said, the ministry has effectively turned it into a de facto final refugee screening.
“My client’s health has recently deteriorated due to poor meals,” Hong said. “Until I filed a complaint last week, he was served only hamburgers every day.”
A chicken burger served to a Guinean man stranded at Gimhae International Airport. Courtesy of Hong Hye-in
When asked why the man’s credibility was questioned, the Ministry of Justice told The Korea Times that it could not disclose any details, citing Article 17 of the Refugee Act, which prohibits sharing personal information about refugee applicants.
A source familiar with the case told The Korea Times that entry approval is likely to be granted soon.
“The court has already ruled in his favor, and with media coverage highlighting the need to help the refugee, an appeal would be burdensome for the ministry,” the source said.
On Friday, Hong said the ministry ultimately decided not to appeal, and the man finally left the airport. He is expected to be placed in housing with the help of supporting organizations.
This is not the first time a refugee applicant has been stranded at a Korean airport.
From 2020 to 2021, an African man claiming political persecution was held for 423 days in the transfer zone of Incheon International Airport.
According to public interest group Duroo, citing government data, the share of asylum seekers referred for refugee screening at ports of entry fell from 59.3 percent in 2022 to 22.6 percent in 2024.
“This means most applicants are being screened out on paperwork alone, denying them a real chance for review,” Duroo said. “The focus seems to be on upholding administrative decisions rather than protecting refugees, raising concerns about fairness and human rights.”
The Guinean man said he was overjoyed by this week’s court decision in his favor and is hopeful about starting a new life.
“I don’t have a clear plan yet. After five months of hardship, I just want to get out from here for now,” he said. “I keep in touch with my wife and child, but it’s hard to be happy when I’m so far from them. I just want to see my family soon.”