National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2017
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2012, include a category on “preventing racial discrimination and increasing awareness on
foreigners.” As a key task, it proposed visiting services to teach immigrants Korean culture and
language.
The Commission launched a watch group comprising 17 immigration experts. Split by key
areas, the watch group monitored the program hosted by the Ministry of Justice to teach Korean
language, Korean society and culture to immigrants from the perspective of both program
operators and participants.
The watch group found that most participants become aware of the programs through
unofficial channels; there are some accessibility issues, including the program application
Website not being available in other languages; textbooks and lectures contain discriminatory
that they brought from their mother country; adjustment is needed in the courses’ difficulty
various characteristics of immigrants. Outside the programs themselves, there are no channels
through which program participants can express their feedback or requirements, the conditions
for opening new classes are too rigorous, there is no system for associated services such as
consultation and complaint resolution, and video education is available only in limited numbers.
In terms of program operation, it was found that operators were exposed to excessive pressure
and poor work environments, as they are additionally tasked to manage and provide information
to participants, have to resolve complaints using their own personnel, and renew their contract
every year (every two years from 2018).
G. Resolving polarization and alienation in the labor market
● Seminar to monitor the status of implementation of ILO recommendations and find ways to
resolve the non-regular worker issue
On 29 August, the Commission organized a seminar to monitor the status of implementation
of ILO recommendations and find ways to resolve the non-regular worker issue jointly with the
Chairperson of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee.
Held at the National Assembly Hall, the seminar featured presentations on the topics of
Commission's
Major Activities
levels and hours of education; and there is not enough educational substance reflective of the
Part 2
elements; there are no programs that help immigrants exploit the values and sentiments