State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2013 - South Korea

In 2012, Jasmine Lee became the first naturalized Korean to win a seat in South Korea's National Assembly. This marked an important step towards Koreans coming to terms with an increasingly ethnically diverse society. However, despite the government support for 'multicultural families', official policies towards immigrants remain pro-assimilation in practice.

In January 2012, immigrants and children of immigrants comprised 2.5 per cent of the population. One out of ten marriages in the country are international and the number of naturalized Koreans is projected to reach 200,000 by 2020. This is in addition to the large number of migrants who come to Korea for work, approximately 550,000 in 2011. Demographic shifts have stimulated public debate on questions around ethnicity and the Korean 'nation', in contrast to the dominant nationalist discourse historically focused on 'one blood' present in textbooks just ten years ago.

The government, despite outward encouragement of 'multiculturalism' – such as sponsoring poster campaigns for the damunhwa gajeong (multicultural family) in Seoul's subway stations – has not embraced a multicultural ideal. Government-sponsored 'multicultural family support centres' provide courses on Korean language and culture, prompting criticism that such centres aim to assimilate minorities rather than foster multiculturalism. Public sentiment also remains ambivalent. Xenophobic discourse was ignited in August, when a group of protesters gathered at the immigration office calling for the abolition of multicultural policies.

South Korea's UN UPR in October 2012 highlighted both positive and negative developments with regard to discrimination against minorities. The government noted its efforts to 'ensure that marriage immigrants adjust well to society'. It referred specifically to the Multicultural Family Support Act, which includes provisions for health care and education for 'marriage immigrants'.

Several states urged South Korea to improve treatment of migrants and refugees, and provide children of undocumented migrants with health care. NGOs estimate that 17,000 children of undocumented migrant workers have no access to health care. NGOs expressed concern regarding the new Refugee Act, which will be enforced in July 2013. The Advocates for Public Interest Law have noted a lack of any mechanism to assess the dangers a person could face upon return to his/her country of origin and the Korean Bar Association has criticized the 'accelerated' procedures, which they believe could lead to abuse. In 2010, Korea recognized 11 per cent of asylum applicants compared to a global average of 38 per cent.

In July 2012, a New Zealand woman teaching English in South Korea appealed to the UN CERD when she was forced to take a second HIV test within nine months. The government first introduced mandatory HIV testing for foreign teachers in 2007. An article in the Journal of Korean Law has claimed that this constitutes racial discrimination since testing is not required for Korean teachers or ethnic Korean non-citizens. Foreign teachers are the only foreign workers still mandated for HIV testing, since reforms in 2010.