Refugees in South Korea, who have been victims of prolonged illegal detention, are turning to the United Nations for redress as the domestic courts have recognized the illegality of their confinement but have denied compensation. One such case is of 'Ngoma,' a 52-year-old man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who faced severe conditions in the Incheon Airport transit area while seeking asylum in South Korea. After being kidnapped by armed militias and suffering physical abuse, he sought refuge only to find himself trapped in a situation that leaves him homeless and in dire health conditions as he awaited a response to his asylum claim.

Another case includes 'Kebede,' a journalist from Ethiopia, who experienced significant peril in his home country after witnessing electoral fraud. After escaping to South Africa, where he faced violence and crime, he relocated to South Korea, only to find himself denied asylum under dubious claims regarding his nationality. His lengthy detention has taken a toll on his health, underscoring the broader issues surrounding refugee treatment and support in South Korea.

The plight of these refugees raises serious questions about the South Korean government's policies regarding asylum seekers and their treatment within the immigration system. The lack of proper support and acknowledgment of the harm done against them, despite legal recognition of their illegal detention, reveals systemic issues that may require international intervention and pressure for reform in South Korea's approach to refugee rights and welfare.