Countries
1: Africa.
2: Americas.
3: Asia-Pacific.
- 3.1: Australia.
- 3.2: Hong Kong .
- 3.3: Japan.
- 3.4: Malaysia.
- 3.5: Maldives.
- 3.6: New Zealand.
- 3.7: South Korea.
  - 3.7.1: Introduction.
  - 3.7.2: List of Detention Sites.
  - 3.7.3: Map of Detention Sites.
  - 3.7.4: Country Links.
  - 3.7.5: Reference List.
4: Europe.
5: Middle East .

South Korea Profile

Quick Facts

Dedicated Immigration Detention Sites: 18 (2009)

Detention Capacity: 1,300 (2003)

Annual Number of Deportations:
18,574 (2006)

Est. Undocumented Population:
211,988 (2006)

Asylum seekers:
1,155 (end 2007)

Detention under Internment: Up to 20 days

Detention for Deportation: No time limit

Last updated: June 2009

South Korea Detention Profile

Reference List

Act Concerning the Employment Permit for Migrant Workers (EPS Act). 2003. Republic of Korea.
Amnesty International (AI). 2009. Amnesty International Public Statement: South Korea: Government Must Protect the Rights of Migrant Workers. AI Index: ASA 25/004/2009. Embargoed until 26 April 2009.
Amnesty International (AI). 2006. Migrant Workers Are Also Human Beings. AI Index: ASA 25/007/200. August 2006.
Esteban, Ma. Angelina I. 2001. The Dynamics of Illegal Migration: The Phillipines – South Korea Case. Paper presented at the 1st DOLE Research Conference at Occupational Safety and Health Center. Quezon City, The Phillipines. 5 December 2001.
Cook, Terry. 2003. “South Korea Begins to Deport Migrant Workers.” World Socialist Web Site. 8 December 2003. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/dec2003/kore-d08_prn.shtml (accessed 6 December 2007).
Government for Foreigners. Website. “Detention of Immigration Offender.” http://www.g4f.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?bbscttTitle=Immigration+offender+investigation&categoryId=2&parentId=505&catSeq=&showMenuId=373&fromOrgPath=&toOrgPath=&userId=&resorceCont=info+boards+%3E+Immigration (accessed 30 November 2007).
Gyu-geun, Cha. 2009. “Korea to Enhance Refugee Recognition System.” The Korea Times. 19 January 2009.
Hwang, Pill-Kyu (Attorney at Law, Korean Public Interest Lawyers Group GONGGAM.). 2007. In discussion with Navitri Putri Guillaume (Global Detention Project). 27 March 2007. Global Detention Project. Geneva, Switzerland.
Hwang, Pill Kyu (Attorney at Law, Korean Public Interest Lawyers Group GONGGAM.) 2009a. Email message to Michael Flynn (Global Detention Project). 28 April 2009. Global Detention Project. Geneva, Switzerland.
Hwang, Pill Kyu (Attorney at Law, Korean Public Interest Lawyers Group GONGGAM.) 2009b. Telephone interview with Michael Flynn (Global Detention Project). 3 June 2009. Global Detention Project. Geneva, Switzerland.
Immigration Bureau, Republic of Korea. 2006. Immigration Bureau Publications: Statistics. Immigration Planning Division, Immigration Bureau, Republic of Korea. 21 April 2006. http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM/primage/e20-24.pdf (accessed 29 November 2007).
Immigration Bureau, Republic of Korea. 2007. Statistical Yearbook on Departure and Arrival 2006. Department of Intelligence Analysis, Immigration Bureau, Republic of Korea (in Korean).
Immigration Control Act 1963. Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea.
Interlocals.net. 2007. “Reckless inequality: Dramatic arrests of Migrant Trade Union leadership highlight South Korea’s failed labour and migration policy”. Interlocals.net. 30 November 2007. http://interlocals.net/?q=node/95 (accessed 4 May 2009).
Kim, Wang-Bae. 2004. “Migration of Foreign Workers into South Korea: From Periphery to Semi-Periphery in the Global Labor Market.” Asian Survey, Vol. 44, no. 2 March / April 2004, p. 316-335.
Korean Public Interest Lawyers Group (GONGGAM). 2007. Documenting the Undocumented: The Human Rights Situation of Irregular Migrants in Korea. Korean Public Interest Lawyers Group.
Lee, Shin-wha. 2003. The Realities of South Korea’s Migration Policy. Human Flows Project Research Paper, Monterey Institute of International Studies. http://gsti.miis.edu/CEAS-PUB/2003_LeeSW.pdf (accessed May 2009).
MINBYUN – Lawyers for a Democratic Society. 2007. NGO Report under ICERD: Republic of Korea. 71st Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the 14th Periodic Report submitted by the Republic of Korea under Article 9 of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. June 2007.
Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. 2003. “News and Data: Government Crackdown on Illegal Aliens Begins Next Week (14 November 2003).” Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. http://www.moj.go.kr/ (accessed 6 December 2007).
Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. 2004a. “News and Data: Justice Ministry Uncovers 140 Illegal Foreign Workers (23 August 2004).” Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. http://www.moj.go.kr/ (accessed 6 December 2007).
Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. 2004b. “News and Data: Crackdown Uncovers 305 Illegal Foreign Workers (27 November 2004).” Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. http://www.moj.go.kr/ (accessed 6 December 2007).
Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. 2005. “News and Data: Gov’t to Run 26 Teams to Crackdown Illegal Aliens (7 March 2005).” Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. http://www.moj.go.kr/ (accessed 6 December 2007).
Ministry of Justice. Website. "Immigration Bureau: Understanding the Immigration Service." Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea. http://www.moj.go.kr/ (accessed 5 October 2007).
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). Website. “Statistics.” NHRCK. http://humanrights.go.kr/english/information/statistics_01.jsp#e (accessed December 12, 2007).
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). 2005a. Survey on Undocumented Migrants in Detention Facilities of Korea. Seoul National Human Rights Commission of Korea (in Korean).
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). 2005b. “Violence and Cruelty in the Process of Detaining Migrant Workers Should Be Eliminated.” NHRCK News. 26 April 2005. http://humanrights.go.kr/english/ (accessed 12 December 2007).
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). 2007a. “NHRCK Reports Findings of Ex Officio Investigation into Fire at Yeosu Immigration Office Detention Facilities.” NHRCK News. 12 April 2007. http://humanrights.go.kr/english/ (accessed 12 December 2007).
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). 2007b. 2007 Survey on Undocumented Migrants in Detention Facilities of Korea (non-final version). National Human Rights Commission of Korea (in Korean).
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). 2008. Summary Conclusions of On-Site Investigation of Immigration Detention Centers and Correctional Facilities. NHRCK. 26 February 2008. http://www.humanrights.go.kr/english/search_view_detail.jsp (accessed 18 May 2009).
National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). 2009. Findings of On-site Investigations into Immigration Detention Centers. NHRCK. 22 January 2009. http://www.humanrights.go.kr/english/activities/view_01.jsp (accessed 18 May 2009).
Park, Young-bum. 1997. “Issues Paper from the Republic of South Korea.” In Migration Issues in the Asia Pacific. Compiled by Patrick Brownlee and Coleen Mitchell. University of Wollongong. Australia. http://www.unesco.org/most/apmrnwp1.htm (accessed 5 December 2007).
Park, Young-bum. 2004. South Korea: Balancing Labor Demand With Strict Controls. Migration Information Source. http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID=272 (accessed 6 December 2007).
Prey, Robert and Seon Ok Lee. 2006. “Tragic Fire Illuminates South Korea’s Treatment of Migrant Workers.” Japan Focus, March 15, 2006. http://www.japanfocus.org/products/topdf/2383 (accessed 11 December 2007).
Seol, Dong-Hoon. 2000. “Past and Present of Foreign Workers in Korea 1987-2000.” Asia Solidarity Quarterly 2, no. 2 (2000): 6-31.
Suzuki, Morris; Tessa, Julia Yonetani and Hyun Mooam. 2006. “Korea’s Migrant Workers Find a Voice on Air: An Interview with Mahbub and Minod Moktan from MWTV.” AsiaRights, Issue 6. http://rspas.anu.edu.au/asiarightsjournal/AsiaRights%20Interview%20MWTV.pdf (accessed 11 December 2007).
UNHCR. 2007. UNHCR Statistical Yearbook Country Data Sheet – Republic of Korea. UNHCR. 30 April 2007.
Van Volkenburg, Matt. 2003. “Drag the Illegal Foreign Workers Out Into The Sun.” Znet. 18 December 2003. http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=4720 (accessed 29 November 2007).
World Organization Against Torture. 2004. “South Korea: Forced Deportation of and Denial of Medical Attention for Migrant Workers.” Urgent Appeals. 2 April 2004. http://omct.org/index.php?id=&lang=eng&actualPageNumber=2&articleId=4769&itemAdmin=article (accessed 11 December 2007).