authority to examine and determine whether a person is a refugee. However, Korea screened 46,506 out of 84,922 refugee applicants between 1994 and 2022, and only 1,338 (1.5% of the applicants) were recognized as refugees. The international community has also expressed concern over Korea's relatively low refugee recognition rate among major countries and delays in refugee status screening. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in its final opinion (2018) on 17th, 18th, and 19th reports of Korea, expressed concerns over the reports that the refugee recognition rate was extremely low and that interviews for refugee recognition screening were conducted in an unprofessional manner, and recommended that human rights education for immigration officials and interpreters dealing with refugee applicants should be continuously implemented and strengthened. In fact, around 2016, courts confirmed a number of cases in which the investigator in charge of the refugee interview distorted the reason for refugee application as “for the purpose of making money” and made a decision to deny refugee status, contrary to what the refugee applicant had actually stated. There are concerns that even though they are considered refugees under the Refugee Act, their legitimate status is not recognized due to problems of inaccurate screening, decisions not to refer to refugee status screening, and delays in screening. It is necessary to devise measures to ensure that refugee applicants can protect their “right to be judged fairly” during the screening process, including minimize the reasons for non-referral for refugee status, establish an appeal procedure for non-referral decisions, recruitment of refugee examination officers, and legal assistance for vulnerable refugee applicants, etc. Meanwhile, the Korean government condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and, as a responsible member of the international community, expressed its intention to actively participate in the international community's efforts, including economic sanctions, to resolve the situation peacefully. In addition, humanitarian aid and cooperation with the international community have been announced several times.230) Despite such an active will, it is necessary for the government to investigate and take necessary measures to ensure that 230) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Release, Feb. 28, 2022; Office of Government Policy Coordination Press Release, Dec. 23, 2022. 93