157 Afghan Special Contributors Settle in Ulsan... 29 Employed at Hyundai Heavy Industries Partner Companies

Residents Protest "Many Foreigners of a Specific Religion Arrive at Once Without Resident Consent"

Afghan special contributors arrived in Dong-gu, Ulsan on the 7th. They will reside in the former company housing of Hyundai Heavy Industries and work at Hyundai Heavy Industries' partner companies. [Image source=Hyundai Heavy Industries]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] One hundred fifty-seven Afghan special contributors who left their homeland, which was taken over by the Taliban, and entered Korea last August have begun settling in Ulsan.

They left the temporary living facility in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do on the 7th and arrived in Ulsan. On that day, 29 households totaling 157 people were discharged and all headed to Ulsan, while the remaining 7 households with 40 people are expected to be discharged on the 9th.

They are Afghan contributors and their families who helped the Korean government at the Korean Embassy in Afghanistan and had to leave their homeland due to the Taliban's reestablishment of power.

Afterward, they entered Korea with special contributor status, learned Korean language and customs at temporary living facilities in Jincheon, Chungbuk and Yeosu, Jeonnam, and were hired by subcontractors of Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, moving their residence there.

The adult Afghan special contributors will begin settling in from this day, residing in the former Hyundai Heavy Industries company housing apartments in Seobu-dong, Dong-gu, provided by Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The heads of the 29 households have secured employment at various subcontractors of Hyundai Heavy Industries' Engine Machinery Division. After receiving job training, they are scheduled to start work next week.

They have been receiving settlement programs such as basic legal order, finance, and market economy understanding at the Yeosu Coast Guard Education Center.

The special contributors who settled in Ulsan account for 40.2% of the 79 households and 391 people who entered the country. It is known that many special contributors wished to settle in Ulsan due to job issues. Among the special contributor families, 64 school-age children will be assigned to nearby elementary, middle, and high schools respectively.

The Ministry of Justice plans to support their community settlement and self-reliance in cooperation with the Ulsan Immigration Office, Dong-gu Office and Education Office of Ulsan City, and the Korean Red Cross.

The civic group Ulsan Citizens' Solidarity issued a statement on the day saying, "We warmly welcome the Afghan families." Ulsan civic groups criticized claims that these people should be dispersed, saying, "Those who have only their families and 29 households to rely on should feel ashamed and reflect on the suggestion to separate them just because they belong to a certain religion."

They also argued, "We must not be shaken by demands for religious discrimination and foreigner discrimination, and should show Ulsan as a place that welcomes with warm hospitality rather than cold treatment."

On the other hand, residents of Dong-gu, Ulsan, are opposing, saying, "It is a disrespectful and unreasonable act to decide unilaterally without any consultation with residents on such an important issue as the collective residence of foreigners."

Resident A said, "Having many foreigners with different religions and lifestyles move into our neighborhood all at once can be a big problem for local residents. Before discussing humanity, we are unprepared for the reality we face, so it is difficult," expressing a negative stance on the sudden relocation news.

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