South Korea Welcomes First 22 Refugees From Myanmar For The Country’s Three-Year Pilot Resettlement Programme Led By UNHCR
A group of 22 refugees from Myanmar arrived at the Incheon International Airport on Wednesday for the kick-off of South Korea's three-year pilot resettlement programme led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
43-year-old Ku Htoo, along with his family, landed in the country after decades of living in a refugee camp, as reported by Korea Joongang Daily Thursday.
"I feel alive. I deeply thank Korea for inviting us, and for embracing us," Ku Htoo said.
He added, "It was too dangerous to live in Myanmar. There was too much war. I had no other choice but to leave and reach the refugee camp. Life at the camp was difficult. I couldn't freely leave the grounds."
Ku Htoo and the rest of the refugees will be under the care of Korea Immigration Service within six to 12 months. The first batch of refugees will be given job training and will take up Korean-language courses.
"I haven't put much thought into my future yet. I'm first planning to fit in here, and then I'll gradually ponder how I'll make a living," Ku Htoo said.
Through the initiative of UNHCR, South Korea becomes the 29th country in the world and second in Asia to allow refugees for resettlement through the Refugee Act.
The first group of refugees includes 11 adults and 11 children who came all the way from Myanmar.
Meanwhile, an official from the Korea Immigration Service said the move of South Korea to accept refugees "is an important step forward both for the refugees and for [South] Korea."
"Korea has taken a step forward in sharing responsibility as a member of the international community, while refugees have been given the opportunity to start anew as members of Korean society," Kim Young June said, as noted by UNHCR Wednesday.
A representative of UNHCR in South Korea added that they are bullish that the country will "expand its resettlement programme to refugees from other regions and major emergencies around the world."
"For the resettled families, today marks an important change in their lives as refugees after their terrible experiences back home and long years of exile in Thailand," Dirk Hebecker said. "Now a difficult road lies ahead for them to achieve full integration, which will depend largely on the hospitality of the receiving communities in South Korea."
