By Kim Young Shin

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi held a meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on Nov. 22 to discuss the refugee situation around the world, Korean policies to protect refugees, and cooperation between Korea and the UNHCR to respond to refugee crises.

Prime Minister Lee said that Korea experienced a mass refugee crisis during the Korean War and outlined Korea’s current policies to assist refugees, such as increasing its humanitarian assistance to refugees, legislation of a Refugee Act, and a pilot project for refugee resettlement.

“The refugee crisis has become the biggest humanitarian risk since World War Ⅱ,” said the prime minister. He particularly asked the UNHCR to protect and support North Korean refugees outside of Korea.

The UNHCR head thanked the Korean government and its citizens for taking an active interest in global refugee issues, and promised to do his best to provide international protection for North Korean refugees.

ysk1111@korea.kr