Nearly Half of Respondents Reject Five Russians Seeking Refuge in Korea

The issue of refugees seeking asylum in foreign countries is not new. However, the recent case of five Russian men seeking refuge in South Korea has caught the attention of many, sparking debates on the recognition of the right to asylum and the protection of refugees.

According to reports, the men fled Russia between October and November 2022 after a mobilization order was issued in the country. They have been stranded in South Korea since then, seeking asylum to avoid being conscripted into the Russian military.

The men’s refugee application was dismissed, with the authorities stating that it was not worthy of evaluation. The advocate for the men, Mr. Lee Jong-chan, has been tirelessly fighting to evaluate their application, insisting that refusing to be conscripted into the military is a valid reason for refugee recognition.

The case has sparked protests and debates in South Korea and beyond, with many questioning the country’s refusal to evaluate the men’s application. On the other hand, some people have expressed concerns about the possible abuse of the refugee system and the consequences of accepting refugees from certain countries.

In response to the controversy, Real Research, an online survey platform, launched a survey on Russians seeking refuge in Korea to gauge public opinion on the case. The survey results showed that most respondents believe Russian men should be granted refugee status in South Korea.

Highlights:

• 82.66% are aware of the five Russians seeking refuge in Korea
• 44.03% state five Russian men applying for refugee status in South Korea should be denied
• 16.9% say that due to a lack of compelling reasons, they should not be allowed

The survey aimed to determine the level of awareness of the public regarding the case of five Russians seeking refuge in Korea after fleeing conscription papers. The respondents were asked if they were aware of the situation.

Out of the total surveyees, 82.66% stated that they are aware of the case, while 17.34% responded that they were unaware of the situation. The high awareness percentage indicates the public’s significant attention and interest in the case. Furthermore, the respondents will be further asked about their opinions on the matter, which will be analyzed in the succeeding data sets.

The second set of data analyzed respondents’ opinions regarding the dismissal of the refugee application of five Russian citizens by the South Korean Ministry of Justice. The respondents were asked to give their opinions on this matter.

47.21% highly agreed that the refusal of conscription is a valid reason for refugee recognition, while 33.37% somewhat agreed with this assertion. On the other hand, 8.59% somewhat disagreed with this assertion, and only 2.1% highly disagreed. Meanwhile, 8.73% of the respondents remained unsure about their opinions.

However, a significant number of respondents who remained unsure or disagreed may have concerns regarding the process of granting refugee status or may not have a clear understanding of the situation. The succeeding data sets will further explore the respondents’ opinions on this matter.

Nearly Half of Respondents Believe Court Will Review Appeals of Five Stranded Russian Men Seeking Refuge in South Korea

The third set of data analyzed the opinions of the respondents regarding the possible court ruling on the appeals of the five Russian men. The respondents were asked to give their predictions on the court ruling.

Out of the total respondents, 49.72% believed that the court would review the appeals of the Russian men, while 33.9% predicted that the court would dismiss their appeals. The respondents who believed that the court would review the appeals are likely to be optimistic that the Russian men will be granted refugee status.

Meanwhile, those who predicted that the court would dismiss their appeals may have concerns regarding the criteria for granting refugee status, or they may not be familiar with the legal process in South Korea. 16.38% remained unsure.

Should the South Korean Ministry of Justice Accept Russian Men’s Refugee Applications?

When the respondents were asked about their stance on the five Russians seeking refuge in Korea, the majority said that the five men should be denied refugee status, compared to 36.01% who said otherwise. 19.96% of respondents remained uncertain.

Moreover, respondents were asked why the South Korean Ministry of Justice should consider accepting the Russian men’s refugee application.

The survey results indicated that in response to the question of whether South Korea’s Ministry of Justice should accept refugee applications from Russian men, 16.15% of the respondents believed that South Korea, as a signatory to the U.N. Convention on Refugees, had a duty to provide assistance. 13.94% were concerned about the risk of persecution the men may face if they returned to Russia, and 13.41% felt they deserved the opportunity to live a peaceful and healthy life.

Additionally, 13.37% believed that Russia was an unsustainable place to reside and work. Other reasons cited included the desire to protect men’s human rights (12.53%), and a sense of global responsibility (12.21%).

The following question posed was, “Why do you think South Korea’s Ministry of Justice should not accept Russian Men’s refugee applications?” The results revealed that 16.9% of respondents believed there were insufficient reasons to accept such applications, while 13.84% saw it as a potential national security risk.

Moreover, 13.58% felt that the men were not eligible for refugee status because they did not meet the necessary application requirements. Other reasons cited included the desire to maintain positive relations with Russia (14.18%), the need to protect national interests (12.89%), and the possibility of limited resources (10.26%).