The number of refugees who fled their homelands to avoid conflict and persecution reached 65 million in 2016. Today, the global refugee population continues to rise due to ongoing conflicts in countries including Syria, Myanmar, and South Sudan. Korea can no longer afford to remain a bystander in the global refugee crisis. The Korean government started accepting refugee applications in 1994, and by the end of 2016, there were a total of 22,792 applications. However, only 3% of applicants, or 672 individuals were granted refugee status. This figure is less than one-tenth of the average world refugee recognition rate which stands at 38%. Korea is a major donor country, and there are growing calls from the international community for Korea to devote more care and attention to the plight of displaced people.
In this session, United Nation’s High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador Mr. Jung Woo-sung will speak with JTBC Newsroom anchor Mr. Kim Pil Gyu on his field visits to refugee camps in Nepal, South Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Bangladesh, and discuss how we can help alleviate the suffering of refugees around the world.