An Egyptian family seeking asylum in Korea participate in a rally calling for better refugee rights in front of Bosingak pavilion at Jonggak Station in downtown Seoul, Sunday. /Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Lee Suh-yoon



Civic groups for and against refugees held opposing rallies near Jonggak Station in downtown Seoul, Sunday, showing the growing rift over refugees especially after more than 550 Yemeni refugees arrived on the country's southern island this year.



Supporters — mostly members of refugee rights groups and labor unions — urged people to abandon racism and hatred toward refugees and called for a fairer and more transparent refugee screening process in front of Bosingak bell pavilion. They chanted slogans such as "Freedom for All" and "Welcome Refugees" in both Korean and Arabic while playing video clips explaining the Arab Spring crisis.



Just across the street from them, counterprotesters held up signs that read "Fake Refugees Out" and "Koreans First" as the Korean national anthem played on speakers.



Asylum seekers, mostly from the Middle East and North Africa, were also present.



"I feel the immigration office is racist, they do not respect me, dismissing what I say," Ahmad, 20, an Egyptian who had been imprisoned from July to August 2016 for participating in a protest against the military government, told The Korea Times at the rally.



"We can't return home, just like Koreans 50 years ago."



Despite their plea, fear of refugees, especially toward Muslims, is growing here.





A protester holds up a sign reading "Fake Refugees Out" at a rally in front of Jongno Tower at Jonggak Station, Seoul, Sunday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk