Anti-racism law in the making
2012-05-21 12:16 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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omonatheydidBy Lee Hyo-sik
Jasmine Lee, a naturalized Korean citizen from the Philippines, was chosen as a proportional representation lawmaker on the ruling Saenuri Party ticket in the April 11 National Assembly elections. She became the first non-ethnic Korean to become a representative in the country’s history. But she instantly became the subject of online attacks. Hundreds of people posted messages on the Internet and social network service (SNS) sties, critical of Lee and other non-Korean residents. But they went unpunished for their offensive remarks because Korea has no law penalizing those making racist statements or engaging in activities instigating racial discrimination.
However, this will likely change in the near future as the government is set to push the incoming 19th National Assembly to pass a special law banning racial discrimination in line with the growing number of migrant workers and immigrant wives.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said Monday that it will soon have lawmakers look at an anti-racism act for migrant workers, immigrant wives and North Korean defectors. It said it will hold policy consultation meetings with the Ministry of Justice and designate the matter as one of the country’s strategic agenda issues.
``Korea used to be a racially-homogeneous nation. But things have changed drastically over the years with a huge influx of migrant workers brought into the country for jobs that Koreans don’t want to do,’’ a ministry official said. ``Now, a larger number of foreign women mostly from China and Southeast Asian nations reside here after marrying Korean men. Korea has now become a multiracial society.’’
Currently, nearly 1.4 million foreigners reside here. Of them, 210,000 foreign women like Jasmin Lee have arrived after marrying Koreans. The ministry projects the number of non-ethnic Korean residents will increase to 3 million by 2030.
``With an influx of foreign laborers, we should take the necessary steps to minimize possible social conflict between Koreans and non-Koreans, as well as boost national competiveness. What we need to do first is to legislate an anti-racial discrimination law,’’ the official said.
To become a leading Asian economy, Koreans should embrace foreigners as neighbors and friends, he said. ``The envisioned law will help boost our international competitiveness and upgrade our image abroad.’’
Not only the United States, but also Germany, Britain and many other European countries with huge immigrant populations have laws banning racial discrimination. In 2006, Germany enacted a law prohibiting employers from discriminating against jobseekers based on race, religion or physical handicap. Britain also has a similar law to reduce potential social conflict and prevent unnecessary legal disputes.
Last October, an immigrant support center launched a campaign calling for the establishment of a special law banning racial discrimination after an ethnic Uzbek woman, who became a naturalized Korean in 2009, was denied entry to a sauna by an employee because she looked non-Korean. The Gyeongnam Migrant Community Service Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, has been collecting signatures across the country from migrant wives and workers, as well as from their family members and friends who support the legislation of a law prohibiting racial discrimination.
YES PLEASE
That's one good step
Source: Koreatimes
Jasmine Lee, a naturalized Korean citizen from the Philippines, was chosen as a proportional representation lawmaker on the ruling Saenuri Party ticket in the April 11 National Assembly elections. She became the first non-ethnic Korean to become a representative in the country’s history. But she instantly became the subject of online attacks. Hundreds of people posted messages on the Internet and social network service (SNS) sties, critical of Lee and other non-Korean residents. But they went unpunished for their offensive remarks because Korea has no law penalizing those making racist statements or engaging in activities instigating racial discrimination.
However, this will likely change in the near future as the government is set to push the incoming 19th National Assembly to pass a special law banning racial discrimination in line with the growing number of migrant workers and immigrant wives.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said Monday that it will soon have lawmakers look at an anti-racism act for migrant workers, immigrant wives and North Korean defectors. It said it will hold policy consultation meetings with the Ministry of Justice and designate the matter as one of the country’s strategic agenda issues.
``Korea used to be a racially-homogeneous nation. But things have changed drastically over the years with a huge influx of migrant workers brought into the country for jobs that Koreans don’t want to do,’’ a ministry official said. ``Now, a larger number of foreign women mostly from China and Southeast Asian nations reside here after marrying Korean men. Korea has now become a multiracial society.’’
Currently, nearly 1.4 million foreigners reside here. Of them, 210,000 foreign women like Jasmin Lee have arrived after marrying Koreans. The ministry projects the number of non-ethnic Korean residents will increase to 3 million by 2030.
``With an influx of foreign laborers, we should take the necessary steps to minimize possible social conflict between Koreans and non-Koreans, as well as boost national competiveness. What we need to do first is to legislate an anti-racial discrimination law,’’ the official said.
To become a leading Asian economy, Koreans should embrace foreigners as neighbors and friends, he said. ``The envisioned law will help boost our international competitiveness and upgrade our image abroad.’’
Not only the United States, but also Germany, Britain and many other European countries with huge immigrant populations have laws banning racial discrimination. In 2006, Germany enacted a law prohibiting employers from discriminating against jobseekers based on race, religion or physical handicap. Britain also has a similar law to reduce potential social conflict and prevent unnecessary legal disputes.
Last October, an immigrant support center launched a campaign calling for the establishment of a special law banning racial discrimination after an ethnic Uzbek woman, who became a naturalized Korean in 2009, was denied entry to a sauna by an employee because she looked non-Korean. The Gyeongnam Migrant Community Service Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, has been collecting signatures across the country from migrant wives and workers, as well as from their family members and friends who support the legislation of a law prohibiting racial discrimination.
YES PLEASE
That's one good step
Source: Koreatimes
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 10:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 10:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 06:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 10:36 am (UTC)Wow, it's about time these people realized that the people they treat unfairly are fcking important for them. Good job.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 08:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 11:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 10:48 am (UTC)Korea is getting the big picture... no one likes racist and then they lose money.
BUT hit me up when it's passed and the levels of punishment are set.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 10:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 01:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 11:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 11:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 12:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 02:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 02:13 pm (UTC)and im just like "wut you dont want to do these jobs so stfu and be glad that someones doing it"
and i always thought that youre from the US /csb
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 02:18 pm (UTC)I'm pretty sure it's the same in most country
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Date: 2012-05-21 12:18 pm (UTC)wow someone actually pointed out something right...it's the same here in america. people bitch about minorities taking "their" jobs, when in reality minorities often take the shittiest jobs no americans want.
i hope this actually goes through...why the hell would you bar a paying customer from coming to your establishment? good business practice...am i right? wtf
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 12:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 12:44 pm (UTC)That's a stretch. How about we apply this law to everyone, not just workers and wives. Nice start though.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 01:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 02:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 04:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 04:48 pm (UTC)On paper, the idea of an anti-discrimination law is great, but realistically it's meaningless unless the law is followed and re-enforced. People's prejudices are not going to simply change with a law like this. There are too many ways people can skirt around anti-discrimination laws and when they do, immigrants often have such little access to the law that they are often unable to seek justice in the event someone infringes on their rights. Perhaps I'm pessimistic, but for now, I just see this as move to show the world how progressive and open-minded SK is. This is just a initial reaction to the very little information provided in the article. I'll read the law and how the government wishes to implement it (if it passes) before making a solid opinion.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 05:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-21 06:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-22 12:32 am (UTC)but actually identifying what is racist
and enforcing laws against what becomes considered racist
is going to be a much bigger, tougher challenge.
Korea is still not diverse enough for the majority of the population to understand what racism is beyond a skin color issue.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-22 03:13 am (UTC)