Migrants from Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Liberia, Congo and the Philippines make their voices heard as refugees in Korea in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on July 8. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan



By Ko Dong-hwan



Some 30 men and women gathered at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on July 8 to express the "voices of refugees."



Migrants from Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Liberia, Congo and the Philippines from across Korea formed the group under the banner "Do You Hear the Refugees' Voice?" Representatives from the Ansan Migrant Center, which organized the event, and Osan Migrant Center accompanied the group.





A Burundi refugee was the first to speak among the gathered asylum seekers and refugees. He covered his face with a mask to protect his identity as family members are still in the African country. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan



The Sunday gathering was the second pro-refugee street demonstration, following one on July 1 in Ansan by the Ansan center.



Sunday's protesters took to the streets to highlight anti-refugee sentiment that arose nationwide following the arrival of 550 Yemeni asylum seekers on Jeju Island in April. With concerns about Muslims and the Islamic religion, some Koreans demanded the government toughen screening and expressed fears the country could become an Islamic nation.





A Cameroonian man said the Korean government has an obligation to protect displaced foreigners in Korea. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan



A petition on the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae's website to abolish refugee laws that were enacted in 2013 attracted over 640,000 agreeing votes.



Sunday's protesters included those with refugee status, those awaiting an immigration office application result and those with humanitarian status. They told their stories to Koreans so "our society will become more inclusive and caring for those in need."





The speakers, including Nigerian men, above, urged the Korean government and people to stop discriminating against refugees and judging them by appearances. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan



A Burundi man, who came to Korea two years ago and earned refugee status, was Sunday's first speaker.



"Refugees need compassion and need to be heard and understood," he said. "Refugees face many difficulties, like language and problems of expressing themselves. Some come here without knowing how to write. They are also half-safe, because although they come here, their family members are still in their countries."





Ansan Migrant Center President and Pastor Park Chun-ung, top, and Osan Migrant Center President and Pastor Jang Chang-won spoke on behalf of the migrants, encouraging listeners to pay attention to their voices and harsh situation. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan



A Nigerian migrant said "some of us lost their parents or brothers, and some don't have a country to go back to as there is still war in many countries" and "they consider Korea as their second home."



A Cameroonian man spoke on the Korean government's negligence in processing asylum seekers. He said he came to Korea to be protected as a refugee and authorities have an obligation to protect them.



"We left our country of origin and we left our families back home," he said. "I would like to plead to the Korean government to encourage the refugees in this country. I also would like to plead that asylum seekers and refugees, upon application, should be granted an authorization to work."





In front of the King Sejong statue, Pastor Park and protesters demand an end to discrimination against refugees in Korea. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan



The united voices at the gathering criticized the lack of staff to carry out the refugee review process, which takes up to three years on average, causing economic hardship and instability to applicants.



Concerned with religious discrimination, the protesters said all refugee applicants are not Muslims and not all Muslims are terrorists either.



"The government is more focused on finding false refugees rather than accepting them," Ansan Migrant Center manager Kim Moon-jeong said.





A percussion performance by migrants ahead of the speeches added excitement to the event. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan