Choi Young-ae: "Local Government Administrative Orders for Foreign Workers' Diagnostic Tests Raise Concerns of Hate and Discrimination"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Ahead of the upcoming "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination" on the 21st, Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, issued a statement pointing out that "policies that separate and distinguish migrants can reinforce perceptions of racial discrimination."

In the statement released on the 19th, Chairperson Choi criticized, "Racial discrimination is not simply limited to race, country of origin, or skin color, but is intertwined with religious and cultural differences, evolving into a complex trend. Especially amid the global COVID-19 pandemic that has continued since early 2020, racial discrimination has escalated into hate crimes."

She emphasized, "Discrimination and hatred against marginalized and vulnerable groups can occur anywhere in the world, and since any of us can become victims of racial discrimination, there must be a shared awareness that racial discrimination must disappear."

In particular, Chairperson Choi expressed concern over administrative orders issued by some local governments this month that forcibly required only foreign workers to undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing. She stated, "'Foreigners' have been perceived as 'suspected infectious disease patients requiring COVID-19 diagnostic testing' and 'criminals who have committed illegal acts,' leading to hateful comments against foreigners on related news. Foreigners have filed complaints with the Human Rights Commission, feeling that the related administrative orders resemble hate and racial discrimination, and the Commission intends to promptly determine whether discrimination and violations have occurred."

She continued, "Policies that exclude or separate migrants can cause negative perceptions and discrimination against migrants. Such policies shake the foundation of social integration, solidarity, and trust, and can lead to hate crimes based on race. Therefore, the government and local governments need to actively include migrants in communication channels to prevent their marginalization and must be especially careful to ensure that discriminatory ideas and attitudes are not produced when implementing policies targeting migrants."

Chairperson Choi concluded, "On the occasion of the upcoming 'International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,' I hope our society moves beyond discrimination and hatred toward a peaceful coexistence society that recognizes diversity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.