Southeast Asians, who take up a large chunk of the so-called 3Ds jobs in Korea, are at the rough end of racism here, say observers.
Working in the dirty, difficult and dangerous sectors of the economy ― much of it factory work, construction and other forms of hard, manual labor ― they encounter harsh treatment that often goes unnoticed due to many of them being illegal, they add.
Rebenson Recana, a factory worker and head of the Filipino EPS Workers Association (FEWA) newsletter, says he has been roughed up by a superior and seen few privileges.
"On Sunday they force us to work, but they do not force Koreans to work," said the four-year resident. "For Chuseok, some employers gave Koreans money, but not to foreign workers. We are not treated like human beings."
However, Recana admitted that it has not been all-bad, and on one occasion when he wrote a letter of complaint to the director of his company over mistreatment at the hands of a superior, the latter was eventually reprimanded.
"The government must do something about the situation … there must be education about how to deal with workers. And workers' rights should be protected by the law," he added.
But, according to Emely Abagat, a professor at the Catholic University of Korea, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. "(The situation) is really getting better and I'm happy about it.
"Korea is celebrating its 60th anniversary of friendship with the Philippines. South Korea is beginning to open its arms to foreigners."
However, she is not without negative experiences. "I have definitely experienced some unfavorable behavior toward Southeast Asians (in Korea)," said the English teacher.
"A parent once told me that she wanted a native speaker to be teaching her daughter. I was upset when I heard this because I think I can teach them well."
Veera Saengphantar, an immigrant factory worker from Thailand, who was reluctant to talk about the issue, said he was not aware of discrimination toward Southeast Asians in Korea.
Others attending the Korea Migrants Center, many of them from Southeast Asian countries, said they did not want to comment.