Migrant Women’s Counseling Cases Surge 3.6 Times in 5 Years... Domestic Violence Most Prevalent

Jin Jinsuk:
"Urgent Need to Strengthen Safety Nets at Shelters and Counseling Centers"

Jin Jinsuk, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Over the past five years, the number of counseling cases involving migrant women has surged by 3.6 times, with domestic violence remaining the most common issue addressed. In particular, counseling for undocumented migrant women has increased more than fourfold, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen protection systems for this vulnerable group exposed to violence.

On October 31, Jin Jinsuk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Buk-gu Eul, Gwangju, analyzed data submitted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family titled “Support Statistics for Migrant Women’s Shelters and Counseling Centers (2020-2024).” The analysis showed that the annual number of counseling cases at migrant women’s counseling centers jumped from 9,613 in 2020 to 35,339 in 2024. Among these, cases related to domestic violence accounted for 12,647, representing 35.8% of the total and marking the highest proportion. Most counseling was conducted via telephone (21,178 cases) and online channels (5,468 cases).

The number of shelter residents decreased slightly from 734 in 2020 to 626 in 2024, but 28 shelters nationwide continue to protect migrant women who are victims. The most common nationalities among residents were Vietnam (689), the Philippines (213), and China (134).

A key concern is that 1,324 individuals-40.5% of those who left shelters (out of a total of 3,272)-had received protection for only “one month or less.” This indicates that many migrant women face difficulties achieving self-reliance after leaving the shelters.

Notably, counseling for undocumented migrant women soared from 435 cases in 2020 to 1,866 in 2024, a 4.3-fold increase. Counseling for those who have not acquired Korean citizenship (47,562 cases over five years) was 3.5 times higher than for those who have obtained citizenship (13,429 cases), suggesting that unstable residency status is a significant factor exacerbating vulnerability to violence.

Jin Jinsuk stated that while the sharp rise in demand for counseling among migrant women is a positive sign of improved accessibility, it also demonstrates that undocumented migrant women remain exposed to violence and unstable conditions.

Jin Jinsuk emphasized, “The fact that nearly half of shelter residents lose protection within a month reflects the weakness of the self-reliance support system. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family must strengthen emergency protection and self-reliance support measures for undocumented migrant women, and expand related infrastructure such as professional staff at shelters and counseling centers, group homes, and self-reliance support centers.”

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