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Understanding Asylum Seeking Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

  • Journal of Human Rights Studies
  • Abbr : JHRS
  • 2019, 2(1), pp.35-69
  • DOI : 10.22976/JHRS.2019.2.1.35
  • Publisher : Korean Association of Human Rights Studies
  • Research Area : Social Science > Law > Law of Special Parts > Human Rights / International Human Rights Law
  • Received : May 7, 2019
  • Accepted : May 22, 2019
  • Published : June 30, 2019

Kim Jirim 1

1공익인권법재단 공감

ABSTRACT

The consistent denial by the Korean Supreme Court and theSeoul Administrative Court to the claims of asylum seekers basedon sexual orientation or gender identity does not accord with theprotective purpose of the Refugee Convention. Since the possibility or sustainability of concealment of one’ssexual orientation is not purely controllable by one’s will and suchconcealment should not be forced, past experience of concealmentor future possibility of concealment shall not serve a standarddetermining risk of persecution. The Seoul Administrative Court, relying on plaintiff’s pastexperience of heterosexual experience, has decided to deny thesexual orientation of the plaintiff. Moreover, without a carefulconsideration about judicial realities regarding sexual minorities, orthe distribution and level of prejudice against sexual minorities, itsimply denies the risk of persecution of a plaintiff relying on thepossibility to receive judicial relief in the country of origin, InternalFlight or Relocation Alternative or abolition of anti-homosexualActs. These judgements by the Supreme Court and Seoul Administrative Court deviate from international standards regarding asylum claimsbased on sexual orientation or gender identity, and shall bemodified to pursue the protective purpose of the RefugeeConvention.

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