This article reviews Korean experience concerning refugee reception. During cold war period, Korea was a kind of passing way for political refugees from neighbouring communist countries to third countries. Until mid-1980's, from time to time, political asylum seekers came to Korea by plane or other means to go to Taiwan, or U.S. They usually stayed several weeks in Korea before leaving. They were treated "politically."
Next Korean experience on refugees was about Vietnamese boat people. From 1975 until 1989 more than 2,500 Vietnamese boat people came to Korea. Most of them were interned in refugee camp in Busan. Korean Government did not allow them settle in Korea. They could not leave the camp unless some country accepted to receive them. Korea's harsh policy toward asylum seekers was criticized. The camp was closed in 1993 after last group left for New Zealand.
Korea ratified the Convention relating to the Status of refugees in 1992, but did not accord refugee status to any asylum seekers until 2000. Though Korea ratified the Convention, she did not want to accept refugees. Anyway, now refugee status were accorded to 116 asylum seekers in Korea. Another 72 people were allowed to stay in Korea as humanitarian status. However, Korean Government can not be rated as generous State toward refugees. Some of domestic law are still inconsistent with the Refugee Convention.