[Statement] Human Dignity Beyond Borders
: Upholding the Rights of Long-Term Asylum Seekers at Ports of Entry
- Urging Structural Reforms to Protect the Fundamental Rights of Asylum Seekers in Prolonged Detention -
□ On the occasion of World Refugee Day on June 20, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho; hereinafter "NHRCK") expresses its deepest solidarity with refugees worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution, violence, and human rights violations. Reaffirming our commitment to ensuring their human rights and dignity are fully protected, the Commission issues the following statement.
□ World Refugee Day is a solemn occasion to remember the profound loss and hardships endured by displaced individuals, to honor their resilience in rebuilding their lives, and to reaffirm the international community's shared responsibility to protect their lives, safety, and inherent human dignity.
□ As a state party to both the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, and as the first country in Asia to enact and implement Refugee Act, the Republic of Korea bears a clear responsibility. We are obligated to treat asylum seekers not merely as subjects of immigration control, but as rights-bearers protected under international human rights norms.
□ However, the implementation of these responsibilities are far from adequate. Concerns continue to mount over instances where individuals applying for refugee status at ports of entry are stranded in airport departure waiting rooms for extended periods while their screening or appeal procedures are pending. Throughout this prolonged stay, their access to basic living conditions remains substandard.
□ Through numerous complaint investigations and policy reviews, the NHRCK has previously determined that airport departure waiting rooms—originally designed solely for short-term stays—are fundamentally unsuitable for long-term habitation. The Commission has repeatedly emphasized that the lack of adequate meals, sleeping quarters, sanitation, exercise, and medical care in these spaces carries a significant risk of violating human dignity and values.
○ Accordingly, in October 2023, the NHRCK recommended that the Minister of Justice establish separate off-airport waiting facilities, formulate operational standards, and reform the system to guarantee basic treatment for asylum seekers. The Commission also issued an official opinion to the Speaker of the National Assembly, stressing the urgent need to deliberate and pass amendments to the Immigration Control Act to provide the necessary legal grounds for constructing these off-site facilities.
□ Protecting the human rights of asylum seekers is an urgent task that can no longer be deferred. The government must immediately improve the basic treatment of asylum seekers confined to airport departure waiting rooms, ensuring their access to proper nutrition, sleep, hygiene, exercise, medical services, external communication, and legal assistance aligns with international human rights standards.
○ Furthermore, the government must establish alternative, dedicated facilities and operational guidelines for asylum seekers facing prolonged stays, and overhaul relevant laws and systems to clearly define their rights and standards of treatment. The National Assembly must also promptly deliberate and pass the pending legislation to establish an institutional framework that prevents recurring human rights violations caused by long-term stays in airport departure waiting rooms.
□ Refugee protection is not an act of charity offered by the State; it is a binding obligation rooted in international human rights law and constitutional values. Human dignity and rights cannot vary based on nationality or immigration status. On this World Refugee Day, the NHRCK urges our society to view refugees not as objects of fear and exclusion, but as equal human beings endowed with inherent dignity and rights, and calls for the swift construction of a more effective, human rights-friendly refugee protection framework.
June 20, 2026
Ahn Chang-ho
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
