Migrant workers in South Korea come not only from China, but also South Asia, Africa and Russia. And during the global recession their cheap labour helped many companies stay in business.

But even though their work is essential for the economy here, advocates say these workers are not always appreciated.

Park Sun Hee is with the Seoul Migrant Worker’s Center and has received complaints from many immigrants.

She says many Korean bosses treat migrants poorly. “Many Koreans discriminate against migrant workers because they are from poor countries, or because they have different skin color,” Park says. “Korea has had a very short history of living with other ethnicities, just about 20 years, that’s the problem.”

Concerns of rights groups

In 2007, Amnesty International condemned Korea’s treatment toward foreign labourers in a report entitled 'migrant workers are also human beings'. It criticized the lack of legal protection as well as laws that prevent migrants from forming labour unions.

Lee Suk jun is with the National Human Rights Commission, an independent, but government funded bureau. He says migrant worker abuse is a real problem and Seoul is starting to take it more seriously. “I think the main problem is caused by the lack of awareness of human rights. The ministry of justice is focusing on legislation complying with international standards. This trend is much more changing the government policy than ever before.”

Many ethnic Koreans also face discrimination

But non-Koreans immigrants aren’t the only foreigners who face discrimination here. Many ethnic Koreans, raised overseas, have come to Korea to teach English or work in other positions. Tammy Chu was born in Korea in the 1970s, but was later adopted by an American family. She says when she returned several years ago she didn’t always feel welcome. "When I came here of course I didn't speak Korean, they'd see me and expect me to speak Korean and when I didn't sometimes I was treated badly, quite rudely, yelled at.”

But there are signs that foreigners are winning more rights here. Earlier this year, a South Korean man was sued after he shouted racist obscenities at an Indian national while riding a bus, the first case of its kind. And now the National Assembly is considering legislation that would officially make racial discrimination illegal.

Author: Jason Strother (Seoul)
Editor: Grahame Lucas