Court Says Mafia Threat Not Grounds for Refugee Status

This file photo taken in shows Yemenis entering an immigration office on Jeju Island after being granted humanitarian stay permits. (Yonhap)

JEJU, Feb. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A foreigner whose application for refugee status was refused despite his claim that the lives of his family members were threatened by the mafia filed a suit to overturn the decision, but eventually lost the case in court.

The Jeju District Court ruled on Monday that it dismissed the Kyrgyz individual’s petition against the decision of the Jeju Immigration Office, which refused to give him refugee status.

The man entered South Korea on a tourist visa (B-2) in February 2018, and applied for refugee status a month later.

The immigration office, however, did not accept the application, saying that his case did not fall under the auspices of the International Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

He appealed the decision to the Ministry of Justice but his appeal was also rejected.

The man claimed that he should be recognized as a refugee since his life would be threatened by the mafia colluding with the police if he returned to his home country.

However, the court ruled that even if he was assaulted and intimidated by the mafia, it would amount to private threats that should be protected by the law enforcement authorities of his home country.

J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)