Attorney Jong Chan Lee of Advocates for Public Interest Law speaks at a press conference in Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Square, urging the South Korean government to recognize Russian conscientious objectors fleeing conscription for the war in Ukraine as refugees, June 2024. (APIL)
Attorney Jong Chan Lee of Advocates for Public Interest Law speaks at a press conference in Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon Square, urging the South Korean government to recognize Russian conscientious objectors fleeing conscription for the war in Ukraine as refugees, June 2024. (APIL)

South Korea has received more than 120,000 refugee applications since its asylum system was introduced just over 30 years ago, but the country’s refugee recognition rate remains strikingly low at just 2.7 percent, according to the Ministry of Justice.

Russian nationals make up the largest share of applicants, the latest data shows, with numbers surging in the past two years -- largely due to Russia’s ongoing war in the Ukraine. As to why South Korea’s recognition rate lags far behind the 2023 OECD average of 25 percent, the government argues that many seeking asylum here are not from major conflict zones.

Refugee applications skyrocketed since 2013

South Korea began processing refugee claims in 1994, two years after signing the UN Refugee Convention, but applications remained low for nearly two decades. That changed in 2013, when the country enacted the Refugee Act, leading to a dramatic surge in claims.

In the decade following the law’s introduction, annual applications jumped twelvefold -- from 1,574 in 2013 to a record 18,837 in 2023. By the end of 2024, the cumulative total had reached 122,095, with 18,336 new applications filed that year -- a slight 3 percent decrease from 2023.

Among asylum seekers, Russian nationals now make up the largest group, with 18,257 applications -- 15 percent of the total. The number of Russians applying for refugee status has surged in recent years, exceeding 10,000 cases in the past two years alone.

According to the Ministry of Justice, this spike is largely due to the Russia-Ukraine war, with many applicants seeking to avoid military conscription. Other top nationalities seeking asylum in South Korea include Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan and India, which together account for nearly half of all applications.

Refugee protection vs. system abuse

Despite the sharp increase in applications, only 1,544 people have been granted refugee status since 1994, leading to a recognition rate of just 2.7 percent. An additional 2,696 applicants have been granted “humanitarian stay permits,” which allow temporary residence for those facing serious threats such as torture or inhumane treatment if deported.

In comparison, the OECD’s “International Migration Outlook 2024” shows that, across its member states, some 676,000 refugees were granted protection out of 2.7 million asylum applications in 2023, translating to an average recognition rate of 25 percent.

The Ministry of Justice has defended its strict asylum policies, stating that many applicants are from countries not typically associated with major refugee crises, making it difficult to compare South Korea’s recognition rate with that of Western nations. The government claims it prioritizes applicants from high-risk countries like Myanmar, Iran and Burundi, where individuals face severe persecution.

Applying for asylum in South Korea is a lengthy and complex process, with cases taking an average of four years to go through multiple stages of review. The first screening alone takes about 14 months, while appeals and administrative lawsuits can drag on for years.

A striking 82 percent of rejected applicants have challenged their decisions in court, and refugee-related cases now make up 18 percent of all administrative lawsuits in South Korea. The government is considering reforms to streamline asylum procedures and prevent excessive litigation.

Another challenge facing South Korea’s asylum system is repeat applications. In 2024 alone, 11,409 applicants refiled their claims, with some individuals applying more than six times. Officials have raised concerns that some applicants may be exploiting legal loopholes to prolong their stay in the country.

The Ministry of Justice has pledged to strike a balance between protecting genuine refugees and preventing abuse of the system. It has also reiterated its commitment to transparency, stating that while the country will continue to offer protection to those in need, it will enforce stricter measures to prevent misuse of the asylum process.