Dramatic Escape of Afghan Special Contributors... Now Focused on 'Self-Reliance' Education

Afghan special contributors whose self-quarantine has been lifted are engaging in outdoor activities on the morning of the 13th at the National Human Resources Development Institute stadium in Jincheon-gun, Chungbuk. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Afghans who arrived on the 27th of last month and are living at the Chungbuk Jincheon National Civil Service Human Resources Development Institute are adapting to Korean culture. Having completed a two-week self-quarantine, the Ministry of Justice, which has conducted direct interviews, plans to issue foreigner registration cards after the Chuseok holiday.

Currently, 390 people, including Afghans who entered with special contribution status and their families, are living at the Human Resources Development Institute. They worked alongside Koreans at local Afghan vocational training centers, the Afghan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), and Bagram Korean Hospital before leaving their hometowns due to threats from the Taliban.

They are supported by the government’s "Facility Operation Team," consisting of 59 members in total. Ten personnel, including two doctors and three nurses from the Ministry of Justice Correction Headquarters, as well as military doctors and nursing officers from the Ministry of National Defense, are stationed at the facility 24 hours a day to monitor the health of the residents.

Accommodations have been arranged with 3-person or 4-person rooms, considering children under 12 years old who require guardians and individuals with disabilities among the families. One interpreter is stationed at the facility, and there is a pool of nine interpreters available for telephone interpretation. Additionally, support necessary for initial settlement, such as living expenses, medical costs, and housing support, is being coordinated among related government departments.

Their status will soon change as well. Afghans who entered with short-term visit (C-3) arrival visas will have their status changed to a long-term stay visa (F-1), allowing them stable residency. After completing education, they will be issued a residence (F-2) visa that permits free employment. The 'F-2' visa is granted to those who intend to stay long-term in Korea to obtain permanent residency and allows a stay of up to five years per issuance without restrictions on employment activities.

They recently held a press conference with reporters. When asked if there were any inconveniences at their current accommodations, they said, "We gave up everything about life in Afghanistan to come here," and expressed, "We sincerely thank the Korean people and government. Thank you for protecting us safely."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is preparing programs for the education and settlement of minors. Yoo Bokryeol, head of the Nationality and Integration Policy Support Group overseeing Afghan support, said, "We plan to provide education appropriate to the age of minors in consultation with the Ministry of Education," adding, "The focus is on Korean language education."

Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice is considering additional support measures for Afghans. First, humanitarian special stay measures have been initiated for Afghans residing in Korea. This applies to 434 Afghans staying in Korea long-term or short-term who are currently legally residing but face difficulties extending their stay period and wish to remain in Korea; special stay status will be granted to them.

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