Migrant rights groups have filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, saying most migrants were excluded from government payments meant to offset damage from high fuel prices.
Groups including the Migrant Workers Equality Solidarity held a joint news conference on the 28th in front of the commission’s office in Seoul’s Jung District and then submitted the complaint.
The groups said that of about 2,167,000 migrants who had stayed in South Korea for at least three months as of March, about 1,785,000 were excluded from the payments, except for marriage migrants, permanent residents and recognized refugees.
Udaya Rai, chair of the Migrants’ Trade Union, said, “Damage from high fuel prices does not discriminate by nationality,” adding that migrant workers should be treated equally because they work and live alongside Koreans.
Attorney Lee Jin-hye, of the migrant center Chingu and acting as the groups’ representative, argued that excluding foreigners because they are not listed on a resident registration record or do not hold permanent residency or marriage-migrant status amounts to arbitrary discrimination.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has said exceptions apply to foreigners listed on a resident registration record that includes at least one Korean national, as well as permanent residents, marriage migrants and recognized refugees, if they are enrolled in national health insurance, are dependents, or receive medical aid.
Applying those standards, the groups said more than 80% of long-term migrants — about 1,785,000 of the roughly 2,167,000 — were excluded as of the end of last month.
Migrant rights groups have raised similar concerns over COVID-19 relief payments and “livelihood recovery” consumption coupons. At the time, they said migrants pay taxes such as earned income tax, comprehensive income tax and local resident tax, but are excluded from social security programs because they are not citizens.
Online commenters, however, posted more than 500 comments each on related posts, with many expressing opposition.
Comments included: “Where did the country start going wrong?” “Please go back to your own country and be treated there,” “Even 30% of citizens can’t get it. Ask your country,” “If you don’t like it, leave,” “You’ve adapted perfectly to the country of complaints,” “We should abolish the human rights commission,” “Next they’ll give it to Tom and Mary overseas,” and “So that means none of them are marriage migrants, permanent residents or recognized refugees, right?”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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