News from Northeast Asia

The contributions to this issue of News from Northeast Asia address the diverse experiences of refugee groups in South Korea. In “It’s Taking a Whole Village to Raise Children: A Focused Study on the Afghan Refugees in Ulsan, South Korea,” Gi Yeon Koo of Seoul National University Asia Center presents the case of the Afghan ‘people of special merit.’ Koo notes how the lessons learned from the public’s reactions to Yemeni refugees were considered in the process of accepting refugees from Afghanistan. Presenting a stark contrast to the case of the Afghan refugees is that of the refugees from Ukraine, who are mostly ethnic Koreans. Their experiences are examined in detail by Ka Young Ko of Seoul National University Asia Center in “The Hospitality and Limitations of South Korea for the Ukrainian Refugees.” Finally, the issue of “Why Don’t Russian Relokants (War Immigrants) Choose South Korea as their Place of Permanent Residence?” is addressed by Vadim Slepchenko of Seoul National University Asia Center. The contents of, and issues raised by, these pieces can be used to understand the wider socio-political and socio-economic outcomes and consequences that can occur for refugees across Northeast Asia.