Hanshin University threatens Uzbek students planning to take legal action over forced departure
Migration and human rights groups, families of Uzbek students and their legal representatives call for a thorough investigation into Hanshin University's alleged forced return of 22 Uzbek students, during a press conference at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy building in Jongno District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min
Hanshin University, which recently stirred controversy for allegedly forcing 22 Uzbek students to leave Korea, is now threatening the students, asking them not to take legal actions against the school, according to the families of some of the affected students, Thursday.
The university, located in Gyeonggi Province, is facing investigations by the police and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, after it repatriated the Uzbek students attending a Korean language institute on its campus against their will before the end of the semester, on Nov. 27. The school cited the students' failure to meet the requirements to stay in the country.
During a press conference held by the families, along with migration and human rights groups and their legal representatives, the families demanded a thorough investigation into the matter, appealing for compensation for the damages suffered by the students.
Shorkirov Erkinjon, husband of one of the Uzbek students forcibly returned, stated that the university continues to coerce those attempting to take legal action.
“They keep saying that if those students do not assert that they left the country voluntarily, the university administration can label them as deportees on their visas, barring them from re-entry," he said.
According to the families and legal representatives, the university has sent a document containing clauses prohibiting criticism of the university or the agency facilitating students studying abroad, and discouraging litigation
Through an Uzbekistan-based agency, the university is requiring students to sign the document, persuading them with promises of free language training courses for one semester without tuition fees on the condition of signing the document.
Abudkhamidov Shokirjon, brother of one of the Uzbek students forced to leave Korea, speaks during a press conference at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy building in Jongno District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min
Concerning the forced departure of the 22 Uzbek students, families also contend that the university's unlawful actions violated the students' human rights.
"Even though I arrived at Incheon International Airport around 4 p.m. on Nov. 27, I couldn't meet my brother for the last time and couldn't contact him because he didn't have a cell phone," said Abudkhamidov Shokirjon, a brother of one of the returned students.
Shokirjon, who is also studying in Korea, expressed his doubts on the legitimacy of the university’s actions, stating that despite it being aware of his contact information, they didn't contact him. He questioned the legality of using the passport and other personal information of students noting his brother was only 18 years old.
The problems persisted even after the students arrived in Uzbekistan, according to Elyot Nurdinov, who has been in contact with the students since learning of the issue on Nov. 29. He is also managing a Facebook community of Uzbek people who reside in Korea.
"Most of the students still had money in their Korean card accounts instead of cash before departing. Consequently, they experienced significant stress upon arrival in Uzbekistan, grappling with difficulties in finding transportation," he explained.
As the university took students’ phones on the bus en route to Incheon International Airport, some were unable to contact their parents and even spent a few days searching for a place to stay.
Legal professionals and migrant rights groups are demanding the clear identification of the responsible agencies, such as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education, the Immigration Office and Hanshin University. They also call for proper compensation for the affected students and long-term restrictions on the recruitment of international students at Hanshin University.
"With this incident, people all over the world are asking Korea whether the highest law in Korea is the Constitution or the Immigration Control Act," said Choi Jeong-gyu, an attorney at the law firm, Wongok, who is also representing eight of the students. "The government should provide a proper answer to this question."
Only the nine students, who are planning to take legal action against the university, refused to sign the document from Hanshin University after returning to Uzbekistan, according to Choi.