Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
nicity (known as
Joseonjok
). Seoul has just 360,000 foreign residents and it is not uncom-
mon for them to face discrimination and xenophobia.
Following the 2012 National Assembly election, Jasmine Lee, born in the Philippines
and the country's first elected MP who is also a naturalised citizen, faced a barrage of ra-
cial attacks from a small but vocal group of Korean 'netizens'. 'Now there will be illegal
immigrants doing what they want and more sham marriages', wrote one person on an in-
ternet forum. There are nearly 200,000 marriage immigrants in Korea. The attacks on Lee
came in the wake of public outrage over the murder by a Chinese immigrant worker of a
girl in Suwon. In 2009 Amnesty International reported that migrant workers in Korea are
exposed to abusive work conditions, including discrimination, and verbal and physical ab-
use.
Despite the racial issues, travellers should feel safe and are unlikely to encounter any-
thing other than friendly locals as they travel around Seoul.
Foes in the North?
Less than 50km from the border, Seoul is literally on the front line with North Korea.
Events such as the bombing of Yeonpyeongdo in November 2010, the death of North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il in December 2011, and the failed launch of a North Korean
rocket in April 2012 are inevitably taken very seriously in Seoul. Not for nothing was the
city chosen as the venue for the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit
make a visit to the DMZ and speak of his country's continued military support for South
Korea against aggression from the North. However, most of the time the only indication
you'll have of heightened tensions with the North is if there's increased security mounted
around central Seoul and the Blue House, official home of the president.
