Dealing what to do for refugees have been a huge discussion and a problem to face for many European countries for several years. Korea now started to face this refugee problem after the 486 Yemenis refugees that entered the island of Jeju in Korea recently.

The petition to President Moon-Jae-In requiring the government to deny the acceptance of refugee has reached more than 700,000 signatures. Yemenis has left Malaysia due to the expiry of their visa and migrated to Jeju island as this province allows visa-free entry for visitors from most countries in order to promote tourism. June 1, the government has added Yemen to the list of excluding country from this policy, prohibiting those entering Jeju that are asylum-seekers. 486 asylum-seekers were prohibited from leaving the island and entering the mainland of Korean Peninsula.

According to a research on view on refugee from Hankookilbo, more than half of the participants from questionnaires were disagreeing with the acceptance of refugees but the result varied depending on age, generation and etc. 70% of 20’s disagreed and 66% of 30’s disagreed. Only 43-55% disagreed when it moved onto over 40’s as they experience and recognise ‘Job Refugee’ in Korea. The main reason for these people disagreeing with accepting the refugee was due to economic protectionism and Cultural conflict that our society has to face.

Yesterday Korean Ministry of Justice has gave Humanitarian status instead of Asylum to 23 Yemenis including minors, and family with pregnancy or infant. Those with humanitarian status are able to stay in Korea freely for a year.

Becoming a developed nation, accepting refugee taking part in this global world is important, but as Republic of Korea is an ethnically homogeneous nation with single language and culture, those who are willing to stay in this nation needs to be prepared to start understanding our culture so that they could cooperate with Korean citizens and convince that accepting refugee is beneficial for the whole society.