Guinean National at Gimhae Airport
Human Rights Groups File Petition
A petition has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission alleging that a man of Guinean nationality, who was staying in the departure waiting area at Busan Gimhae International Airport, suffered human rights violations while requesting a refugee screening.
On the 25th, the Refugee Rights Network, public interest law group Duru, and the Joint Countermeasures Committee for Immigration Rights and Human Rights in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam held a press conference in front of the Busan Human Rights Office of the National Human Rights Commission in Yeonje-gu, Busan. The organizations stated, "Mr. A, an airport refugee who arrived in Korea fleeing political persecution, was provided with only the same chicken hamburger for five months," and added, "The first step in protecting refugees is to grant them a fair opportunity for refugee status screening. However, as immigration authorities have been frequently refusing to refer cases for refugee screening, the number of airport refugees is increasing, and their basic human rights are being violated."
On the 25th, human rights organizations including the Refugee Rights Network filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission regarding the refugee issue at Gimhae Airport. Yonhap News
Mr. A has been staying in the airport departure waiting area within the terminal's secure zone for five months after being denied entry at Gimhae Airport on April 27 and not being referred for refugee screening. With the help of human rights organizations, he filed a lawsuit requesting to undergo refugee screening. Mr. A, who participated in protests against military dictatorship in Guinea and presented scars as evidence, requested to be screened for refugee status. However, immigration authorities did not refer him for screening, citing a lack of credibility in his statements.
Mr. A won in the first trial but must remain in the departure waiting area at Gimhae Airport until the higher court's decision is finalized. In a letter read by his lawyer, he stated, "I applied for asylum in Korea because of threats to my life," and added, "If I return to Guinea, I could face a life sentence, but I have continuously been pressured to return to my home country, and a Chinese airline even threatened to forcibly put me on a plane."
Hamburger received by Mr. A. Joint Countermeasures Committee for Immigration Rights and Human Rights in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam
Mr. A initially received two hamburgers a day at irregular times, but recently, he has been getting his meals from an airport convenience store within a 6,000 won daily limit. Human rights organizations said, "Mr. A has the right to humane treatment at least until his refugee status screening is completed, but this has not been the case," and emphasized, "The inhumane conditions of the departure waiting area must be improved."
Bill to Establish Departure Waiting Facilities Outside Airports Pending in National Assembly
The departure waiting areas, where foreigners denied entry stay temporarily before deportation, are in poor condition, and with the recent increase in long-term stays, there is growing controversy over human rights violations. Human rights organizations have defined these long-term airport residents as 'airport refugees' and have been urging resolution of the issue for several years.
In 2023, a man from North Africa who stayed in the departure waiting area at Incheon International Airport for nearly a year ultimately lost his lawsuit and had to go to another country to apply for refugee status. Currently, a bill to establish departure waiting facilities outside airports is pending in the National Assembly. Incheon Airport is now allowing foreigners who win the first trial in lawsuits regarding refusal to refer for refugee screening to stay at a refugee support center located outside the airport.
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