The S.K. conservative(reactionary!!) daily Dong-A Ilbo reported today following:
On Sunday, news of a mass arrest of illegal migrants was greeted with celebration at an online cafe calling for the expulsion of illegal immigrants.
Other websites, like one opposing Korea’s “multicultural policy” and another calling for measures to deal with foreign laborers, are full of material openly hostile to foreigners, including stuff like, “We must show them how scary a country Korea is.”
These groups even plan to hold a rally and march in Daehangno on Nov 30 calling for a strong crackdown on illegal migrants and an exposing of crimes committed by foreigners.
This growing hostility towards foreigners is due to the increasing number of foreigners living in Korea and the belief that foreign laborers are stealing jobs from low-income earning Koreans at a time economic crisis.
In an online survey conducted by the Justice Ministry, 91.8% of 1,990 respondents said authorities should strengthen their crackdown against illegal migrants. The Labor Ministry’s Migrant Workers Center said it has recently gotten a sudden spike in foreigners complaining of racist treatment and discrimination at the workplace or public offices.
Experts say that if understanding and consensus about a multicultural society fail to take root, you could see the appearance even in Korea of “skinheads” like those in Europe who target foreigners with violence. Government measures are needed, they say.
Xenophobia on the Rise
On Sunday, news of a mass arrest of illegal migrants was greeted with celebration at an online cafe calling for the expulsion of illegal immigrants.
Other websites, like one opposing Korea’s “multicultural policy” and another calling for measures to deal with foreign laborers, are full of material openly hostile to foreigners, including stuff like, “We must show them how scary a country Korea is.”
These groups even plan to hold a rally and march in Daehangno on Nov 30 calling for a strong crackdown on illegal migrants and an exposing of crimes committed by foreigners.
This growing hostility towards foreigners is due to the increasing number of foreigners living in Korea and the belief that foreign laborers are stealing jobs from low-income earning Koreans at a time economic crisis.
In an online survey conducted by the Justice Ministry, 91.8% of 1,990 respondents said authorities should strengthen their crackdown against illegal migrants. The Labor Ministry’s Migrant Workers Center said it has recently gotten a sudden spike in foreigners complaining of racist treatment and discrimination at the workplace or public offices.
Experts say that if understanding and consensus about a multicultural society fail to take root, you could see the appearance even in Korea of “skinheads” like those in Europe who target foreigners with violence. Government measures are needed, they say.
http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?n=200811170039
