In a report released on May 13, 2025, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) highlighted a “continued increase” in online and offline hate speech directed at migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and ethnic Chinese residents. The committee, which reviewed South Korea’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, cited specific incidents, including anti-Muslim rhetoric tied to opposition to a mosque construction in Daegu, a southeastern city, and the detention and intimidation of undocumented migrant workers.
South Korea, a largely homogeneous society with a growing immigrant population, has seen rising tensions over cultural diversity in recent years. Migrants and ethnic minorities, including those from China, often face social stigma and workplace discrimination in the country.
The CERD called for comprehensive reforms, including amending criminal laws to impose harsher penalties for racially motivated acts, explicitly criminalizing hate speech and hate crimes, and condemning and investigating such rhetoric from politicians and public figures. It also recommended public education campaigns to reduce prejudice against migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
The committee raised concerns about the treatment of migrant workers, who often face hazardous working conditions and discrimination. It urged South Korea to revise labor laws to eliminate direct and indirect discrimination and ensure proper enforcement of labor standards.
The report also addressed discrimination against North Korean defectors, known as “North Korean escapees” in South Korea. Although legally considered South Korean citizens, they are not protected under the country’s refugee law, leaving them vulnerable to social stigma and limited access to education and employment. The CERD called for codifying the principle of non-refoulement—prohibiting forced repatriation—in domestic law and taking steps to address the stigmatization of defectors.
Additionally, the committee urged greater transparency and merit-based processes in selecting members of South Korea’s National Human Rights Commission.
The findings stem from a review of South Korea’s 20th, 21st, and 22nd national reports, conducted in Geneva last month—the first such review since December 2018. South Korea, a signatory to the UN convention, undergoes periodic evaluations to assess its efforts to eliminate racial discrimination.
A South Korean Foreign Ministry official defended the government’s record, stating that it had provided detailed explanations of legal and institutional measures to combat racial discrimination and responded diligently to the committee’s inquiries. “The ministry, in coordination with relevant agencies, will carefully review the report and use it to strengthen future efforts,” the official said.
The report underscores the challenges South Korea faces as it navigates growing diversity in a society historically unaccustomed to large-scale immigration. With migrant workers and North Korean defectors playing an increasing role in the economy and social fabric, the UN’s recommendations signal a call for more robust protections to foster inclusion.
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