Will Afghan Refugees Come to Korea... Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Say "As an Advanced Country, We Must Accept Refugees"

On the 21st (local time), an Afghan refugee family arriving at Dulles International Airport on the outskirts of Washington DC, USA, is leaving the arrival hall to board a bus. Photo by Washington AP=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Voices are emerging in the political sphere calling for the South Korean government to consider accepting Afghan refugees amid the issue of accommodating Afghan refugees.

On the 22nd, Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said during a lunch meeting with party member Park Yong-jin, "Countries such as the United States are making efforts to safely bring Afghans who cooperated in the Afghanistan reconstruction projects," adding, "Now that we have become an advanced country, shouldn't we take on such responsibilities as well?" He argued that Afghans who assisted the South Korean government in Afghanistan should be brought to Korea.

Song further stated, "There are about 400 Afghans, including engineers, who cooperated in hospital and school construction projects in Afghanistan that our government was responsible for," and emphasized, "It is necessary to safely bring these individuals to the Republic of Korea."

However, regarding the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on the 21st (local time) that the U.S. is considering accommodating Afghan refugees at overseas U.S. military bases including those in South Korea, Song said, "We have not consulted with our government, and I believe it is unrealistic."

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is talking with Park Yong-jin, a presidential candidate from the party, at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul on the 22nd.
/Photo by Yonhap News

Voices from the opposition also called for accepting Afghan refugees. Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook on the 21st, "The horrific mass killings in Afghanistan after the Taliban armed forces took over the government are only just beginning," and stated, "We must accept Afghan refugees on humanitarian grounds." However, he added, "We should be cautious about granting domestic residency status rather than temporary accommodation within bases."

Jang Hye-young, a member of the Justice Party, also wrote on Facebook on the 20th, "We need to start discussions to prepare measures for South Korea to accept at least some Afghan refugees," and argued, "At the very least, by accepting families with pregnant women, children, and their families, we should open a path for international solidarity." She emphasized, "I believe South Korea, as the first Asian country to enact a refugee law, has a role to play."

Kang Min-jin, leader of the Youth Justice Party, also said on the same day, "The government should urgently implement measures to suspend repatriation, extend stay, and recognize refugee status for all Afghans residing in the country regardless of visa status."

Kang explained, "The United Kingdom has declared it will accept 20,000 Afghan refugees, and the Philippines has also declared it is 'willing to accept Afghan refugees,'" adding, "South Korea should start by ensuring stable residence and status for Afghans currently residing domestically and gradually increase the refugee acceptance rate to a level that is not shameful for an advanced country."

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