Racism Law

Submitted by on

Hi,

    I love Korea, but one thing troubles me greatly. I have been led to believe there is no law against racism here. Is this true? This was told to me by someone high up in a Foreign Workers help group, linked with YMCA here. Please correct me if this is wrong, misinformed. If true, I'd like to submit a formal pettition for a law, either to Lee Myung Bak, or the new President via this site, if possible.

Re: Racism Law

Submitted by on

You are correct. There are not any laws against prejudice on race, at least not yet...

About a year ago, a Naturalized Korean was not allowed into a sauna because she looked like a foreigner.

A sauna employee refused to admit to the woman, a naturalized Korean, saying she was still a “foreigner” by appearance and foreign users may “make water in bathtub dirty” and “pass on AIDS.”

Story here:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/117_96613.html

However a new law is in the making but who knows if it'll go through...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2012/05/123_111396.html

The best thing for "foreigners" to do is to be vocal but positive in cases of prejudice.

Re: Racism Law

Submitted by on

Korea's motto, "foriengers are dirty. give us your money and go"

 

I and many others have been subjected to excessive racism and prejudice here. Xenophobia is rampant and will not get any better while these old decrepit men run the country.

Re: Racism Law

Submitted by on

Thanks guys, I hope more people will be proactive on this issue. The good Koreans (majority)are made to look bad by the racist element.

Re: Racism Law

Submitted by on

There are no laws against or for racism. Should there be?

Foreigners are les than 1% of the population and, you perhaps are only here for less than 1% of your natural born life.

Why should they protect you if you are not Asian?

Affirmative action laws are set up to help those with a large percentage of the minority get into jobs that they wouldn't normally get. Being anti-racist is not the position nor the interest of business.

Whence it is in the interest then the doors open, until then be with the rest of the 1% do your 1 year and go to Thailand.

Re: Racism Law

Submitted by on

Why would a person need protection, if racism weren't a factor here. Does the % matter, or time spent? 

Re: Racism Law

Submitted by on

The United States was blatantly racist implementing public segregation up until a few decades ago...Korea is a homogeneous nation with a pretty short history of foreigner existence in their society.  It'll take time.  It is getting better, though.  In my ten years I've defintely seen improvement...maybe not enough, but it'll take time. 

Re: Racism Law

Submitted by on

Whilst the Korean parliament is yet to pass an anti discrimination act, don't believe that there aren't laws against racism. Korea has ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Korea went further and accepted adjudication from the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Article 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea reads "(1)Treaties duly concluded and promulgated under the Constitution and the generally recognized rules of international law shall have the same effect as the domestic laws of the Republic of Korea. (2)The status of aliens shall be guaranteed as prescribed by international law and treaties.Source [http://english.ccourt.go.kr/home/att_file/download/Constitution_of_the_R... This means discrimination is illegal in Korea. If you are discrminated against you can register a complaint with the Police or with the National Human Rights Commission. If either of these doesn't work then you can file directly to the CERD (committee). On a final note I find a lot of the racism I experience is due to nationalism. If you speak to older Koreans they will tell you that Korea wasn't always like this. Park Jung-hee felt that nationalism would help people work hard to develop the country faster. He wasn't wrong but does nationalism have any place in today's world?