Both editorials in the Catholic papers bring to the attention of the
readers the difficulties of the migrants in Korea. Today Korean Catholics remember the
101st World Day of Migrants and Refugees along with Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday. The world village in which we live brings the reality of different people and cultures living together. Korea has ethnic Koreans from China, Russia and North Korea and many other migrants with different facial features who have come from poor countries and are here to do the difficult, dirty and dangerous work of the society, often discriminated and shunned. There is also a large number who have married Koreans and are living in the country.
They are often treated worse than those in the lowest stratum of society: they are the invisible persons in society.Very basic human rights are not respected, health care, educational aid, and when sick hospital care is not easily found, and in school ignored by classmates. Even in the Church we see this happening. We have separate Masses for them and they are not relating with the parishioners. When we don't accept a foreigner we are refusing something basic of a person's humanity. We are treating another as a commodity and fitting them into the structures of the society we have made.
In our elementary, middle and high schools one out of a hundred are children from another culture. This shows that we are becoming a multicultural country. This requires we change the way we think and act.
Many in society do not hear the cry of the weak, and fail to see their pain and the need to find solutions. A survey made recently found that those married to Koreans, in 2009, 36.4 % felt discrimination and in 2012 it increased to 41.9 %. Three years ago 3.% of the migrants said prejudice and discrimination made life difficult, this has now gone up to 7%. A sign that we are not doing well in our efforts.
Pope Francis in his message for the 101st World Day of Migrants: "The Church without frontiers Mother to all, spreads throughout the world a culture of acceptance and solidarity, in which no one is seen as useless, out of place or disposable. When living out this motherhood effectively, the Christian community nourishes, guides and indicates the way, accompanying all with patience, and drawing close to them through prayer and works of mercy."
