한국의 난민법: 시민사회 영향력의 한계

Abstract

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the Refugee Act of Korea, enacted in 2012. The act, which went into effect in July 2013, is the first standalone refugee law in EastAsia. This paper assesses the role of Korean civil society in creating the new law. According to the findings of this case study, civil activists played a major part in thecreation of Refugee Act, but had less influence on its actual contents. Civil society groupsfirst brought attention to the need for increased refugee protections through separateregulations, and then formed a coalition of groups to write a draft bill. However, the lawthat passed in 2011 is significantly different from that draft bill. Much to thedisappointment and frustration of refugee activists, it was altered to suit Ministry of Justiceinterests. Overall, civil society groups served as little more than catalysts, and theirinfluence on the final, legislated version of the Refugee Act was limited.