On March 15, a rally marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21) was held in front of Bosingak Bell Pavilion in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Co-hosted by a coalition of migrant rights organizations from across the country, the rally was held under the theme “A New World Free from Discrimination and Hatred! Freedom and Equality for Migrants!” Migrant workers, youth with migrant backgrounds, young adults, and international students all took the floor to speak. Refugee activist Majun also shared his voice at the event, speaking out critically against racial discrimination and hate speech in our society.
Full remarks by Migration to Asia Peace (MAP) refugee activist Majun
Hello, I am Majun. Hello, I am Zahra.
Today I stand here to speak about a reality many of us are facing — the shadow of racial discrimination and hate speech spreading through our society.
I came to Korea after opposing the military coup in my home country of Egypt. Today I work here as a delivery rider.
Last month, as I was standing beside my motorcycle, a Korean delivery worker came up to me and shouted, “Go back to your country. Why are you doing delivery work?” and then called the police. The police checked my residence status and left.
This incident reveals a far larger and more structural hostility that has already given rise to physical violence against migrant workers. What happened was no accident. It is evidence that migrants and refugees are being used as political scapegoats. Rumors keep spreading that foreign workers are stealing jobs and driving down wages.
Racial discrimination does not always show itself loudly or violently. Sometimes it operates quietly and structurally, deep inside the system.
Legally, I have the right to use a “refugee travel document” instead of a passport. But I run into constant barriers and delays. When I tried to register a business, the administrative office demanded only an Egyptian passport. Even after the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) confirmed my rights, I was told to wait several more months until the administrative officials were notified about the relevant law.
When I was in difficulty and tried to pick up money a friend had sent from abroad, every bank turned me away because my passport had expired. If even a recognized refugee (F-2-4) faces obstacles like these at banks and community centers, what nightmares must humanitarian stay holders (G-1) and asylum seekers go through?
On top of that, the fact that the driver’s license exam is not available in Arabic has become a structural trap, pushing Middle Eastern migrants who need to drive for their livelihoods toward unlicensed driving and criminal penalties.
These forms of racial discrimination and hate speech do more than hurt our feelings and make our lives harder. They erode our trust in this country’s democracy and human rights. And they suppress the positive contributions we are capable of making to this society.
Discrimination on the grounds of being a foreigner, being a refugee, or speaking a different language has no place anywhere in our world.
Beyond status and residence category, we are all workers. Beyond borders, we are all human beings.
Let us stand in solidarity! Stop the hate! Build a future for everyone! Let us all chant together — Beyond status and residence category, we are all workers! Beyond borders, we are all human beings! We oppose the revision of the Refugee Act that drives refugees away! Stop closed-door revisions and welcome all refugees!