By Lee Kyung-min
The immigration authorities initiated refugee recognition reviews for 486 Yemeni asylum seekers on Jeju Island, Tuesday, with the procedure expected to take up to eight months. The displaced are among 549 who sought refuge in Korea after fleeing their country to escape the ongoing civil war that began in 2015. The Jeju branch of the Korea Immigration Service said a team of four officials will conduct up to six-hour in-depth interviews of up to three individuals per day over place of birth, family background, grounds for seeking asylum and claimed fears of persecution. The interviews will be led by a review commissioner with the help of immigration office-designated interpreters. Those who are denied the recognition can file an appeal with the regional office, the outcome of which will be finalized unless disputed otherwise following a judgment by an administrative court.
The review comes amid growing anti-refugee sentiment in Korea as an increasing number of Koreans are protesting the regional government's “asylum seeker-friendly policies” to help them find jobs, a humanitarian initiative deemed an “undue favor” by jobless Koreans. Over 200,000 people signed a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website demanding the government scrap or revise laws governing refugee status and the visa waiver program on Jeju Island. The petition largely targeted the Yemenis who came here via a visa waiver program under which foreigners can stay for 30 days after being given a visa on entry. All nationals but those from 11 countries suspected of being sponsors of terrorism are eligible for the program implemented in 2002 to promote the economy and attract foreign spending on the resort island.
Many Koreans ask whether granting refugee status would require financial support and contribute to public safety and the economic prosperity of Korea and the island. “I have to doubt whether the group of people are really desperate enough to seek the status. The government should evaluate criteria and strengthen requirements,” one petitioner wrote.
The harsh sentiment was triggered after the Jeju branch of the immigration service announced early this month it would implement policies to help Yemeni asylum seekers find jobs on the island, activities previously deemed illegal and subject to punishment including deportation. The measure soured public sentiment especially among the many young and jobless who have little compassion due to fierce competition in the job market. This is compounded by continued reports of hiring irregularities at banks and other state-run firms in which children of the rich and powerful are given favors in landing highly coveted jobs. Jeju's policy initially sought to acknowledge the financial hardships of the Yemenis staying in Korea, most of whom have no way of making a living after their 30-day visas expire.