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About 2.5 million, or 5% of the total population in Korea, are migrants from other countries. Some of them are 'undocumented migrant workers' who were previously called 'illegal aliens', and many of them raise young children. Over two days, we will try to examine the reality of undocumented immigrant children.



Reporter Bae Jun-woo reports what kind of difficulties children who are growing up in Korea but do not exist legally, and what we should be worried about, first.



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The lives of children who are just starting out are as hard as their fathers and mothers.



Crying because of lack of sleep.



It was just before sunrise, so it was still dark.



Undocumented immigrant children are preparing to enter daycare from now on.



Both father and mother have to go to work for over an hour, because the few daycare centers that can take care of the children are far away. 



[Parents of unregistered immigrant children: Let's go to the factory with my wife early in the morning. Send the baby quickly (to the daycare center).]



But these little children, there are no traces anywhere in our society.



Because they are undocumented migrants who, like their parents, are outside the confines of the law. 



It is estimated that there are 300,000 to 400,000 undocumented immigrants in Korea and 20,000 undocumented immigrant children.



Most undocumented migrants are engaged in low-wage long-time work. 



They came to Korea in search of a better future. They are undocumented immigrants, but they are desperately needed in Korea as well. 



[Ahn Chang-hee / Small business operation: Without such people, it is not difficult in my view, and I think it will be to the level where we have to close the door.

There are now (unregistered) 6 foreigners.] This



Filipino woman in her 20s gave birth a month ago, six months after she was pregnant.



This child is still in the incubator. 



As an undocumented immigrant, there is no medical insurance. 



Hospital bills are snowballing. 



Without even dreaming of postpartum care, I am working tirelessly, thinking only of my child. 



[Filipino woman: There is nothing wrong with the child.

I want to give this baby the best things.]



Now, this baby, just out of this world, is like a ghost.



[Lee Sang-hyeop / Catholic priest: There are many such children who were actually born without even being issued a birth certificate, but whose existence is unknown.

In a word, I have become such a child.]



[Filipino woman: I desperately want to be treated when I go to the hospital while I am here.

Babies have done nothing wrong.]



(Video coverage: Lee Chan-soo, video editing: Park Chun-bae, CG: Lee Jong-jeong, Choi Jae-young)