89. Jeju Island is a non-visa area where people can enter without a visa for the purpose of sightseeing, etc., except for the people of the country designated and announced by the Minister of Justice. Yemeni were also allowed to enter Jeju Island without a visa. 90. Most of the Yemeni people who had left the country due to the civil war moved to neighboring countries such as Oman, 51,000, Saudi Arabia, 39,880, or Malaysia, 2,830, where they can stay for a short period without a visa. Since the opening of the direct flights between Malaysia and Jeju Island in December 2017, more than 500 people have entered Jeju Island between April and May 2018 and applied for refugee statue. 91. Based on Article 22 of the Immigration Act, the government restricted the scope of activities of Yemeni refugee applicants who have entered since April 30 to Jeju Island so that they could not go to the main land. On June 1, Yemen was designated as a country excluded from the list of visa-waiver country, and since then the entrance of Yemeni people has been restricted. 92. In addition, the government stated that as an exception to the rule that permits employment after six months from the submission of the refugee application, Yemeni refugee applicants could work in aquaculture industry, fishery and restaurants, and it planned to carry out the refugee status determination procedure as soon as possible within two to three months. 93. Negative perceptions on refugees and migrants based on unfounded, distorted or exaggerated claims arising from the burden of accepting refugees and prejudices against Islamic religions are spreading. In response, the NHRCK has announced chairperson’s statements twice to establish a firm position and measures that conform to the international human rights standards and the Refugee Act. The NHRCK also visited Jeju Island for several times to interview refugee applicants and met refugee officers to encourage fair refugee status determination procedures. 94. On 27 July 2018, 2018 Briefing on Racial Discrimination was held under the lead of civil society organizations, and it was pointed out that “while the government failed to present fundamental resolutions and messages that conform to international standards regarding the influx of Yemeni refugee applicants in Jeju Island, words of hatred against refugees began to spread”. In this regard, the government should make active efforts to dispel the misunderstanding, prejudice, and unfounded fear against refugees. 21