Cumulative Refugee Recognition Rate at 2.7%
Ministry of Justice: "Recognition Granted When Need for Protection Is High"
Top Five Countries Including Russia Account for 48% of All Applications
The Ministry of Justice announced on the 3rd that the cumulative number of refugee applications has surpassed 122,095 as of December 31 last year, marking 30 years since the refugee system was implemented.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of refugee applicants was only 5,069 over about 18 years from 1994 to 2012. However, after the enforcement of the Refugee Act in 2013, the number surged approximately 12 times from 1,574 in 2013 to 18,837 in 2023. South Korea joined the Refugee Convention in December 1992 and began refugee recognition review operations in March 1994.
The most common reason for refugee applications was political opinion, accounting for 24,513 cases. This was followed by religion (23,480 cases), membership in a particular social group (10,757 cases), race (5,541 cases), family reunification (5,210 cases), and nationality (1,162 cases). Applications based on economic reasons and threats between private individuals, which are outside the Refugee Convention, totaled 58,419 cases, accounting for about 48% of all applications.
The top five countries with the highest number of refugee applications to South Korea are Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, and India. As of December 2024, the number of refugee applications from these top five countries reached 58,419, accounting for 48% of all applications.
Even if a refugee application is rejected during the review, the Ministry of Justice protects 2,696 individuals who face risks of inhumane treatment such as torture or other situations that threaten their life or physical freedom by granting humanitarian residence permits. By nationality, the numbers are as follows: Syria (1,271), Republic of Yemen (802), Haiti (117), Myanmar (55), and Pakistan (37).
Meanwhile, about 9.4% of all refugee applicants who received a rejection decision (including administrative lawsuits) did not leave the country and reapplied for refugee status. Among them, six individuals reapplied more than six times. Under current law, there are no limits on the duration or number of refugee applications.
Regarding the processing status of refugee applications, out of 122,095 cases, 65,227 have been decided upon, 10,216 were voluntarily withdrawn, and 18,948 were terminated by authority due to three absences, totaling 94,391 cases closed, while 27,704 cases are pending review.
Among the decisions made by local immigration offices, 7 out of 10 cases (48,563 cases) received objections. The rate of filing lawsuits in court after dissatisfaction with objection results has been about 82% on average over the past five years, which is a high level. Refugee lawsuits account for 18% of all administrative lawsuits and 34% of administrative case appeals.
The number of cases recognized as refugees based on the reasons stipulated in the Refugee Convention and Refugee Act totals 1,544, with a cumulative refugee recognition rate of 2.7%. The Ministry of Justice explained, "Many applicants are from countries not among the world's major refugee-producing regions, and the refugee recognition rate is influenced by complex factors such as geographical accessibility, making simple comparisons with other countries like those in Europe difficult." They added, "South Korea actively recognizes refugees from the top five refugee-producing countries, including Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and South Sudan, whose nationals have a high need for protection."
The Ministry of Justice currently protects 2,696 individuals who, despite receiving refugee rejection decisions, face risks of inhumane treatment such as torture or threats to life and physical freedom by granting humanitarian residence permits. Protection by nationality is as follows: Syria (1,271), Republic of Yemen (802), Haiti (117), Myanmar (55), and Pakistan (37). The total protection rate, including refugee recognition and humanitarian residence permits, is 7.4% cumulatively.
Kim Seok-woo, Acting Minister of Justice, stated, "We will enhance public access to refugee information through accurate refugee statistics and improve trust in overall refugee policies. We will continue to actively protect refugees in need through stricter reviews."
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