한국 사회에서의 난민 인식의 문제

Abstract

This paper attempts to present a perspective that improves refugee awareness by analyzing Korean society's perception and complementing problems about refugees. First of all, to help understand the concept of refugees so far, the formation and development process of the international refugee concept and changes in historical perceptions of refugees in Korean history were summarized. Then, on the refugee issue, the relationship with national sovereignty was reviewed, focusing on the human rights perspective. Korea established its national identity through the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasty. It emerged as exclusivity to others in the process of establishing a modern national state and produced a variety of internal refugees. Korea has never recognized refugees until the late 20th century, and even in the recent Yemen refugee crisis on Jeju Island, disgust and opposition against refugees had occurred strongly. The refugee issue needs cooperation through international solidarity and the establishment of a regime, not a confrontation between national sovereignty and human rights. Because universal human rights should be respected, and at the same time, international and national legal grounds are needed. However, the legal recognition of refugee status is not everything. What is more important is to go beyond physical and psychological boundaries and recognize and coexist with their respective historical, cultural and regional differences. In Korean history, refugees have always been with us, but they have not been properly addressed. In particular, refugees in modern history were people who have been excluded to maintain state power. He/she was not guaranteed basic human rights as non-citizens and was subject to surveillance and crackdown. This historical experience of Korean Refugees (韓人難民) should not be repeated to refugees who came to Korea. The Koreans already live in a multicultural society, and the Koreans must recognize ourselves through strangers and move toward awareness for human exchange and coexistence.