▲ Mr. Kim's father A (middle) who talks with Kim Min-hyuk (16, Korean name) after being disapproved of refugee status
The father of Kim Min-hyuk (16, South Korea's active name) from Iran, who was recognized as a refugee with the help of friends and the Blue House National Complaint, reapplied the refugee screening, but was disapproved.
The Ministry of Justice Seoul Immigration and Foreign Affairs Office decided on August 8 that the refugee status of Kim's father A could not be recognized.
The Seoul Immigration Service said that Mr. A's claim to recognize refugee status does not fall under "a sufficiently well-founded fear of persecution," as defined in the Refugee Convention.
Mr. A was granted a one-year humanitarian stay, considering that she had to raise minor children.
A said after a refugee screening, he held a press conference in front of an annex to the Seoul Immigration and Foreign Affairs Office in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, saying that he will not approve the status of refugees but will appeal the permission for humanitarian stay.
Mr. A, who entered Korea with Kim in 2010, has since converted to Christianity.
Iran is a country ruled by the Muslim law Sharia, which, if converted, could be convicted of treason and sentenced to even the highest death penalty.
Since then, A has applied for refugee status in 2016, but was dismissed for his belief that he was not firm.
In subsequent lawsuits, the first and second trials were lost in a row.
Kim's son, Kim, was also rejected in 2016 after applying for refugee status.
Then, I was recognized as a refugee last year thanks to the Blue House national petition and a relay one-person protest of my middle school friends.
Still unable to accept refugee status, Mr. A reapplyed for refugee screening in February, and the Ministry of Justice decided to hold a refugee screening on June 11 and delayed the schedule.
Oh Hyun-rok, a teacher at Ajou Middle School who helped Kim apply for refugee status, said in a press conference that "Mr. A's misrepresentation regarding the year of entry into Korea and his lack of active religious life were the main reasons for not accepting refugee status." "Kim and A have the same reason for applying for refugee status, but it's a contradiction not to recognize A only."
Mr. A's legal representative said, "I will appeal the result and I will quarrel through an administrative lawsuit if it is not accepted."
A's son, Kim, said, "I was only recognized for refugee status last year, and I want my father, my only family, to be recognized for refugee status and live a better life than now."
(Photo = Yonhap News)