Protesting Refugees in South Korea

Description

This photo essay covers South Koreans protesting refugees, especially those who entered through Jeju Island. 

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Petition to Blue House against "Illegal Refugees" (700,000 Signatures)

A petition started on June 15, 2018 that was part of the wave of anti-refugee protests occuring on Jeju Island and the mainland. It reached 700,000 signatures and has been highlighted by international and national news organization along with anti-refugee protestors and human rights organizations. 

Digital Flyer Announcing Anti-Refugee Protest in South Korea

Announcing an anti-refugee protest in front of Gwangwhamun on Saturday, June 30th 

"Even Terrorists Are Being Considered Refugees"

After clicking on the blue banner on the Refugee Human Right Center’s blog, I was led to another blog site that showed messages from an anti-refugee protest group with one of the images stating “The real human rights group press conference." The image here seems to be saying that the South Korean government is indiscriminately giving everyone who asks for it refugee status, including terrorists and immigrants. 

Anti-Refugee Banner Ad on Refugee Rights Website

While I was checking the South Korea’s Refugee Human Rights Center’s blog site, I found this large banner at the very top of the blog page. It’s an advertisement (probably an expensive one since Naver cafe blogs are used frequently by South Koreans) that slams “fake refugees, illegal aliens, calling for their deportation” and promotes a “South Koreans first” policy.

Anti-Refugee Vehicle Protest

International news coverage showing an anti-refugee protestor in a small, Hyundai truck with a large yellow banner that says “South Koreans First!” Advertisements by truck are not unusual, including for political campaigns and events.

Original caption: An anti-immigrant protester in Jeju. The banner reads, “Our own people first!” Jun Michael Park for The New York Times

License

All rights reserved.

Created date

December 14, 2019

Cite as

Danielle Yorleny Tassara. 14 December 2019, "Protesting Refugees in South Korea ", Center for Ethnography, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 14 December 2019, accessed 19 December 2024. http://centerforethnography.org/content/protesting-refugees-south-korea