South Korea And Japan Refuses To Offer Asylum To Syrian Refugees Despite Being Signatories to U.N. Refugee Convention, Say Refugees Might Cause 'Social Tension' and 'Instability'
South Korea and Japan are among the developed countries that have been resistant to offering shelter to Syrian refugees despite being signatories to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. As signatories to the said convention, South Korea and Japan are required to protect refugees and offer them their basic rights and social services.
USA Today reported Monday that South Korea granted refugee status to 94 displaced individuals in 2014 out of around 2,900 applicants from Asia, Middle East and Africa. The low acceptance rate is a already higher than the 57 refugee status they granted in 2013.
South Korea's number fares better than Japan's which only took in 6 refugees in 2013 and 11 in 2014 out of around 5,000 asylum seekers.
CNN News noted on Sept. 10 other countries that offered zero resettlement facilities for Syrian refugees, which includes Russia and Singapore.
Russia's and Singapore's refusal to accept refugees stems from their efforts to keep undocumented migrant workers from entering their lands. Both countries are also concerned that refugees who are indigent and war-torn might only cause social tension and domestic instability.
"Racism is a very difficult issue," said Seoul-based human rights lawyer and director of Advocates for Public Interest Law Jong Chul Kim. "It overrides any argument for letting in foreigners such as humanitarianism, legal obligation or cultural diversity."
South Korea and Japan were singled out for racism and xenophobia by the United Nations human rights based on the 2013 World Values Survey that revealed more than one out of three South Koreans refused to have a foreign neighbor.
Some institutions believe that both countries should start accepting refugees soon given their fast-aging population, low birth rates and declining workforce. A drop of 42 percent in Japan's workforce was estimated by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while the Korea Economic Research Institute noted that South Korea would be needing around 15 million immigrants to maintain growth in the future.
South China Morning Post noted in their article on Sept. 11 despite South Korea's refusal to offer resettlement places for Syrian refugees, it has passed a Refugee Act in 2012, which provides for the country's mandate to help in facilitating the resettlement and rehabilitation of refugees.
The Government of Japan on the other hand has agreed to improve its asylum review process, and has allowed Syrian refugees to remain on humanitarian grounds.
