What Are Your Choices for Refugee Acceptance?

Refugees are people who don’t want to return to their homelands after leaving them to escape from fear of persecution for reasons such as race, religion, political views, or participation in certain social organizations. In recent years, Europe has begun to accommodate plenty of refugees, and the issue of refugee acceptance has become a global problem, not just a national problem. Korea has also been unable to remain free from the refugee issue, and Jeju Island is currently experiencing this problem because of refugees from Yemen’s war.

At this time, there are refugees from more than 100 countries around the world, including Syria, Lebanon, and the Republic of South Sudan. Refugee crises are caused by natural disasters and racial and religious conflicts. In 2015, there was a European refugee crisis when a massive migration of refugees from the Middle East to Europe occurred. For a long time, refugees from conflict areas around the world have tried to enter wealthy western Europe. However, the number of refugees going to Europe has exploded since 2015 when the victims of the Syrian civil war began migrating to Europe. Refugees often die from risks related to escaping from their own countries. For this reason, there are many people who try to protect them from a humanitarian point of view. However, few refugees are recognized as legitimate refugees and are allowed to enter their desired countries. Many countries are still unwilling to accept refugees. They oppose the entry of refugees because their national security is a priority. As the economy in Korea is headed for some hard times, more and more people are complaining about using their taxes to stabilize the lives of other people, and not the safety and welfare of their own people.

People argue for accepting refugees based on their own values. If then, what are the students thinking? The Pharos listened to a students’ opinions on the refugee issue.

An affirmative position

1)What do you think about accepting refugees? 

I’m familiar with the term “accepting refugees” in other countries, but it seems awkward to me to mention it in my country. It’s not common in Korea. However, this Jeju refugees case has led me to rethink the situation of refugees.

2)If we had to accept refugees in our country, would you agree or disagree with it? Why would you think that?

I would disagree. First of all, I don’t think we have any reason to accept the refugees. Also, there is a greater risk of crime. If you look at where most refugees come from, they’re mostly Muslims with a high proportion of rapists and terrorists. I think it’s too much of a concern, and I think it's only natural that we need to be careful about accepting strangers who have different backgrounds and circumstances.

3)If we accept refugees, what should we do?

If we accept refugees, we must change our minds about them and truly accept them. It should be the first thing we do. Then I think we should provide jobs for the refugees. By utilizing cheap labor from overseas workers and putting them into jobs, refugees can be provided with opportunities to stand on their own, and they will be less distant from Koreans in the field of labor. In addition, various systems must be established for the refugees. As we embrace them and live together, we must provide generous support to help the refugees settle down well. Through Korean language education and mentoring activities for refugees, I think we will provide an environment in which we can all live together well.

An opposite position

1)What do you think about accepting refugees?

Accepting refugees is an international problem. Refugees will continue to arise from natural disasters and

civil war. That is why all countries should be interested in working on solutions.

2)If we had to accept refugees in our country, would you agree or disagree with it? Why would you think that?

I think we should accept refugees. Korea joined the UN Refugee Convention in 1991 and enacted the Anti-Civil Law for the first time in Asia in 2012. In response to this, Korea will have to actively try to help refugees. We also have to face the reality that they might have been deceived by brokers and are starving on the street.

3)If we accept refugees, what should we do? 

The issue of accepting refugees in the future will not be solved simply by acceptance and opposition. We must continue to be interested in refugees and try to look at this issue from a complex perspective and find a proper resolution. Also, people should not simply focus on their opinions about their own people or refugees, but try to find appropriate relief and find a suitable solution for both sides. It is difficult to solve the refugee problem by establishing a solution in the short term. Therefore, we need to periodically think about the seriousness of this problem, not just when it is a current issue.

Planning Editor JANG SOHYEON dbskdkwk@naver.com

71st Cub Reporter MOON SOHYUN sohyun7709@daum.net