Social Integration of the Refugees and its challenges in Korea. Social Rights of the Refugees and Asylum-seekers and its challenges

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1 Social Integration of the Refugees and its challenges in Korea Won-geun CHOI (NANCEN) Introduction Since the first conventional refugee recognition in 2001, there re growing concern about social rights and integration of the refugees and asylum-seekers in Korea. According to the result of the psychological counseling for refugees in Korea, discrimination and lack of social assistance are more serious causes of the psychological vulnerability than the experiences of the persecutions in the country of origin of those refugees. After the years of advocacy of the Korean civil society, Korean government announced some of the social protection and integration policy of the refugees and asylum-seekers in the revised immigration control act in Dec working permit for some of the asylum-seekers and the Refugee Assistance Center. Social Rights of the Refugees and Asylum-seekers and its challenges Rights of working and livelihood Paradox : absence of any assistance vs. prohibition of labor - No assistance from Korean government, except some of medical support for emergency situation. i.e. delivery of a baby or some surgeries. - In the other hand, asylum-seekers are prohibited for working permit which causes serious economic problem and lead them to the illegal labor market Refugees can access to the labor market and most of social security system. But short of information and lack of the opportunities of the vocational training and language and cultural education are some of the main obstacles for the social integration. Housing and social integration In Korea, refugees scattered in the urban area. They do not form any kind of social

2 classes, but included in the migrant workers society, separated from the Korean people. The lack of social assistance from Korean government forced most of Asylumseekers to be one of the illegal migrant workers, and this situation strengths the negative perception of the refugees=illegal migrant worker among Korean people. Medical care Refugees can benefit from the National Health Insurance System, but not for the asylum-seekers. Among the annual budget of the Ministry of Justice, about 25 million KRW(almost 22,000 USD) are included for medical assistance of the refugees and other foreigners. But only few cases are available to get this assistance due to the short of the information and the ignorance of immigration officers. Psychological vulnerability - Psychological problem of refugees and asylum-seekers are very serious. They have no chance to get any counseling or treatment for their psychological symptoms such as PTSD, depression, obsession or etc. during the RSD procedure or after it. - According to the survey of the NHRC in 2009, almost a quarter of the refugees and asylum-seekers are suffering from psychological problems - Psychological vulnerability is one of the obstacles for the successful social integration of refugees and asylum-seekers In Korea. Social Integration Policy of Korean government Rights of refugees in the 1951 Refugee Convention should or have to try - In the 1951 Refugee convention, many of rights of refugees stated in the should. But the revised immigration law in 2008, it stated that Korean government have to try to fulfill its obligations in the 1951 Refugee convention to protect the rights of the refugees. - It is not only a legal problem but also it shows wrong perception of the Korean government in the protection of the rights of refugees.

3 Working permit If RSD procedure delayed more than a year, the asylum-seeker can apply for working permit to the immigration after Jun But this working permit policy has serious problems - Excessive waiting period (1 year) - No alternatives for the vulnerable people who are not available for work - Practical procedure Refugee Reception Center : Protection or Exclusion? The revised immigration control law clarified the function of the RRC(Refugee Reception Center) - Language education (Korean) and vocational counseling - Training for social integration - Medical Assistance Those functions are necessary matters and show the concern of the Korean government. But its location is very serious problem. - Its location is the Youngjong-do island, nearby the Incheon Airport (see the picture #1) - It is not based on the rights-based approach of the refugees and asylumseekers, but for the easier control of them.

4 Seoul Pic. #1. Location of the RRC (in the circle) Freedom of movement and access problem. - The RRC is far away from the most of the residences of the refugees and asylum-seekers : Incheon, Bucheon, Ansan and Uijungbu city. - Very limited public transportation. - Cost of the access is too high for them. Exclusion from the opportunity of the social integration - Limited number of local residence near the RRC, thus most of the refugees and asylum-seekers in the RRC have very limited chance to meet Korean people. Sewage plant and helicopter site - A sewage plant and helicopter site of the Incheon Police, Coastal Police and Fire stations are located nearby. (see the picture #2)

5 Pic. 1 Sattelite picture of the location of the RRC (The sewage plant in the left and helicopter site on the top) The RRC program is focused on the easier control and separate them from Korean society, not to protect or empower the refugees and asylum-seekers. Alternative actions of Korean Civil Society Rights-based Approach It is most basic but fundamental starting point to consider about the rights-based approach, and it is what the Korean government need. Most important matter is perception and will of the Korean government itself, but in the other hand, Korean civil society should provide alternative policies based on the rights of the refugees and asylum-seekers. Practical examples from the NGOs To change the government policy - Free medical care program for the migrant workers and other minorities of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. - Increasing Social Assistance budget of the Ministry of Justice NANCEN proposal to the MP Park, Young-a in DEC Total(KRW) Costs(KRW) numbers Period Medical Assistance 300,000,000 Year

6 Interpreters 180,000, , hr./year Accommodation 540,000, , month Living Assistance 180,000, , month Nursery Assistance 36,000, , month Total 1,236,000,000 ($ 1.1million) After this proposal, the MOJ also announced its budget plan for 2011 which is included with half million USD of the social assistance fund and 400,000 USD of the legal assistance fund. Baby milk assistance program of the NANCEN - Max. 50 babies(under 24 months old) will be assisted for their baby milk. - Furthermore, it will be expanded into the assistance program for pregnant women and its families. Eco Femme for the income generating of the refugee and asylum-seeker women - Eco Femme is a social enterprise for female refugees and asylum-seekers Conclusion Misconception of the Korean government on the issue of the social integration of refugees and asylum-seekers Their major social integration policies have serious obstacles, especially working permit policy and the RAC project. Unfortunately, Korean civil society has limited resources and ability to change the policy of the government and to do effective alternative programs. But Korean civil society is trying to do some of new programs for social rights of refugees in recent days, and try to spend its resources and intention for it greater than any time. For the Korean government and the civil society, it is very beginning for the social integration program of the refugees and the asylum-seekers in Korea. Thus it is very important to cooperate and monitor each other. Most important matter is that the fundamental foundation of the social integration policy must be the rights-based approach, not any excuses on the limitation of resources or any bureaucratic practices.