On the 23rd, an immigrant organization filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, stating that the government's decision not to provide 'livelihood recovery consumption coupons' to most foreigners is discriminatory. They pointed out that when President Lee Jae-myung was serving as governor, Gyeonggi Province provided disaster relief funds to foreigners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the same day, the national immigrant human rights organization held a press conference in front of the Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, urging that 'all immigrants should be given consumption coupons according to the principles of non-discrimination and equality.'
The government is distributing consumption coupons ranging from 150,000 to 550,000 won per person, combining the first round, which has already started, and the second round, which will be distributed in September. Since the aim is to support citizens' incomes, foreigners are generally excluded from eligibility.
However, even foreigners who hold permanent resident status (F-5 visa), marriage immigrants (F-6), and recognized refugees (F-2-4) will receive consumption coupons. They can also receive coupons if they are registered on the resident registration list with at least one Korean citizen.
The immigrant organization stated that due to this measure, among 2.7 million immigrants, 1.7 million such as migrant workers, compatriots with visas, and international students will not receive the consumption coupons. They asked, 'Why do immigrants, who live and consume economically in this country and face the same difficulties, have to experience discrimination and exclusion?'
The immigrant organization also noted, 'President Lee Jae-myung has previously provided disaster relief funds to all registered foreigners during his term as governor.' Earlier, Gyeonggi Province allowed 580,000 registered foreigners and foreign nationals in Korea to receive 100,000 won each as part of the 'second disaster basic income' between March and April 2021, while President Lee was serving as governor. This followed the Human Rights Commission's recommendation that treating foreigners differently from citizens in COVID-19 support is discrimination.