Does South Korea have a problem with Xenophobia?

March 16th 2021

At the start of the pandemic, the South Korean government issued harsher quarantine restrictions for foreign residents coming from abroad, whereas Koreans coming back home from overseas, were met with little restrictions—some leaving their quarantine after 3 days to go to a cafe. 

Different rules for foreign residents of Korea has always been a thing though. In Korea, sometimes you will walk past a restaurant, sauna, club, or gym, only to be turned away, because you are not Korean.  

South Korea doesn’t have an anti-discrimination law.

“Gyeonggi province issued a sweeping administrative order mandating all international workers be tested after at least 275 foreigners tested positive, many in outbreaks at manufacturing plants. Where some foreigners were illegally employed. Foreigners are losing their shit and calling xenophobia because no Korean Workers are being tested. Gyeonggi province issued a text stating that the Foreigners needed to go get the tests in an effort to get the illegal immigrants to come out and get tested without fear of deportation.”

Anonymous source

So lets break this down on questions you may have:

How do Foreign residents feel?

Some Foreign residents in Korea agree that xenophobia is a problem, BUT because their country has xenophobia too and it exists everywhere and it’s best just to turn the other cheek. How do you feel about that?

Some people are doing the “Whataboutism”. Whataboutism is a basic way to deflect from the difficult questions by making a counterissue (raising a different issue.)

In a quick mini conversation, I spoke with a foreign resident about xenophobia in Korea about what is going on:

Q. Can I ask you what’s going on?

A. Areas are asking all foreigners to get covid tests. Lots of foreigners see it as racist. 

Q. Do you think Korea is only testing foreigners? 

A. Random testing showed 40 foreigners with 0 connection had covid in a smallish area. 

Q. And that led to the areas targeting all foreigners? 

A. That set off the government and suspicion. People thinking foreigners ,especially British and Americans (look at our countries) care less about virus and walk around maskless and shit. So now Seoul is asking ALL foreigners to have a test by the end of the month I believe. 

Q. Are westerners caring less about the virus walking around maskless?

A. Have you not been watching the news about America and England? Two of the countries with the highest rates? 

Q. I have but it’s like that’s going on in that country. Why pin it on Americans and Englanders who live in Korea? 

A. I didn’t say they are. You need to read better. 

Q. I’m asking in general lol

A. The government has always targeted foreigners in an unbalanced way with Covid. Korean gay man gave a whole nightclub Covid. Foreigners are to blame.  Korean teacher brings Covid to school? Foreign teachers party too much. 

Q. Okay two more questions. I was reading about a university gym that was closed to foreigners back in 2019 because foreigners are disorganized. Do you believe Korea has a xenophobia problem? Do you think it just comes from what’s going on in the media in general? 

A. I think it all comes down to, Koreans are prideful. They truly believe they can do no wrong and that their people follow the correct path. While others will stray and can not be held accountable. Foreigners are of a different mindset and all have different cultures/religions. It is hard to accommodate. So instead of trying, they close themselves off. (Restaurants, saunas, Gyms.)

Q. Do you think there’s any hope to that mindset changing with the younger generations?

A. I do think so. I see it in my adult classes with younger adults.

Last update: Seoul government cancels mandatory coronavirus testing for foreigners after being deemed discriminatory. Perhaps this is a step in the right direction and South Korea will finally be implementing and mandate an anti-discrimination law.

Editors note* This conversation isn’t just about being forced to get a nose swab, it’s apart of a bigger issue on the lack of human rights for foreign residents in South Korea. When a naturalized Korean isn’t allowed to enter a Sauna or go to a restaurant because they aren’t born in Korea-that’s a problem that runs deeper than the surface. Best to pull it at its roots and start bringing communities together to heal the divide of “otherness” that so often leads to more impactful issues down the line (have you seen what’s going on around the world?) In the digital age of the WORLD wide web we have no excuse, we need to do better as a global community.

Feature cover photo is by artist Sindi