**Interpretation: Flitto, an AI-powered multilingual simultaneous interpretation service (Korean, English, Chinese, French, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Arabic, Swahili, etc.)
Please find this live interpretation guide for more information: https://korearefugeeforum.org/en/live-interpretation-guide/
9:30 – 12:30 | Plenary Session
Room: Grand Hall
Opening Remarks
Sae-Ryo Kim, Representative, UNHCR Korea
Special Remarks
Hackyoung Lee, Deputy Speaker of National Assembly (Video)
Jiho Cha, Member of the National Assembly (Video)
Dongyeon Kim, Governor of Gyeonggi Province (Delivered by proxy: Jongdae Kim, Executive Assistant to the Governor)
Congratulatory Remarks
Changho Ahn, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
Il Lee, Chair, Korea Refugee Rights Network / Attorney at law, Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL)
Chiwan Kim, Korea Refugee Research Network / President, Research Institute for the Tamla Culture (Video)
Global Compact on Refugees and Global Refugee Forum Overview and Update (Video)
Nicolas Brass, Chief of the Global Compact on Refugees Section, UNHCR
Changki Byun, Policy Officer, Global Compact onRefugees Section, UNHCR
Overview of GRF pledges submitted by the stakeholder
Jaeik Jang, Protection Associate, UNHCR Korea
GRF Pledge Progressive Review
Soomin Kim, Assistant Manager, Korea International Cooperation Agency
Hyekyung Park, Deputy Director, Migrant and human Rights Team, Human Rights Violation Investigation Division, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
Seokpyo Hong, Attorney at Law, Korea Law Firm Public Interest Network / Lee&Ko
Heechul Yang, Vice Chairman, Korean Bar Association Refugee and Immigrant Committee
Jinsun Kim, Professor, Refugee Research Network / Jeju National University
KRF Roadmap: Going Forward
Jaeik Jang, Protection Associate, UNHCR Korea & Youngah Kim, Executive Director, Migration to Asia Peace
Buliko Desire Mawa & Shaimaa Elsaid, Members, Refugee Reference Group
13:30 – 16:50 | Thematic Session
I. Securing Access to Protection: Asylum Systems, Legal Assistance,and Human Right (13:30-14:50)
- Time: 13:30 – 14:50
- Room: Room1
- Session Organizer: 한국난민인권네트워크(KORIN)
This session reviews the national protection system and discusses measures to ensure timely and fair legal protection for asylum-seekers. It covers access to asylum procedures, legal assistance, registration and documentation, human rights safeguards, and the improvement of protection policies and legislation.
#Attaining favourable protection environment #Access to territory, registration and documentation and status determination #Protection policy and law
#Access to Protection
Opening
Stefan Maier, Deputy Representative – Protection, UNHCR Korea
Moderator
Yeonju Kim, Activist, NANCEN Refugee Rights Center
Panelists
Jinsoo Kim, Manager, Refuge pNan
Jongchan Lee, Attorney at law, Advocates for Public Interest Law(APIL)
Sanghyun Lee, Lawyer, Duroo – Association for Public Interest Law
Hwa, Activist, Rainbow Refugee Network
Wonkyu Kim, General Director, Immigrant Society Bureau of Gyunggi Province
Bohyun Kim, Sister, Good Samaritan’s House
II. Unlocking Potential: Socio-economic integration and self-reliance
- Time: 13:30 – 14:50
- Room: Room2
This session will explore pathways for the socio-economic inclusion of refugees. As part of the inclusion agenda, it will examine approaches to Korean language training, vocational training, and early settlement support. The session will also discuss topics such as expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment, improving access to labor and job information, and building solutions and partnerships with the private sector, including employment initiatives. Through these discussions, the session seeks to identify ways to facilitate safe mobility and provide new opportunities for sustainable settlement for refugees.
#Korean language training and Social Orientation # Vocational Training # Financial inclusion, Financial literacy #Employment #Entrepreneurship #Private Sector Solutions/Partnerships # Refugee Labor Mobility: Safe Journeys to New Homes through Employment
Moderator
Wongeun Choi, Assistant Professor, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Panelists
Kidong Yeom, Deputy Director, Management Support Team, Korea Immigration Service
Mijeong Kim, Team Leader, Ulsan Donggu Family Center
Insoon Kwon, Secretary-General, Social Cooperative auliklim
Juhee Lee, Volunteering Teacher, Wepeace Korean Language School
Sunghwan Lee, Representative, Mustard_ful
Chongseog Cho, Chairman, Yang chon Credit Cooperative
Ngalula Wangala Dorcas, Founder, Wise Women Association
III. Achieving Health and Wellbeing for All: Building Resilience Through Inclusion in Social Protection
- Time: 15:10 – 16:30
- Room: Room1
This session provides a platform for participating organizations to share their experiences and objectives. It will discuss strengthening and expanding social welfare systems for vulnerable refugees and improving access to information. The session will also address gaps in advisory services and weaknesses in resource coordination.
#Health and well-being #Mental health and Psychosocial support #Shelter, housing #Basic needs of new-comers and the undocumented
Moderator
Juyoung Jang, Senior Policy Researcher, Migration Research & Training Center
Panelists
Samuel Kim, Social Worker, National Medical Center
Suyoun Eun, Planning/Administration Director, Ansan Global Youth Center
Jeongwoo Kim, Communication Team Senior Manager, Migrant Health Association in Korea WeFriends
Hakyoung Kim, MD-PhD, Mental Health Advancement for Refugees in Korea / Society of Korean Women Psychologists
Yeonjoo Choi, Social Worker, Seoul Red Cross Hospital Healthy Neighbor Center
Minjung Doh, Director, You&Me Psychological and Counseling Services
Soyee Park, Manager, Refuge pNan
IV. Securing Sustainable Futures through Education: From Childcare to Higher
- Time: 15:10 – 16:30
- Room: Room2
This session aims to enhance educational access for refugees throughout the entire lifecycle. It will explore opportunities for refugees, including preschool-aged children, to be included in both formal and non-formal education systems, and further consider pathways to higher education. The discussion will also address the reallocation of resources and other measures.
#Access to childcare #Korean langugage education #Safe school #Inclusive Education #Refugee Higher Education and Self-reliance: Achieving 15% Enrolment by 2030 #Education pathway
Moderator
Younghee Cho, Senior Research Fellow, Migration Research & Training Centre
Panelists
Jaeyoung Kim, Regional Director, Save the Children Seoul Regional Office
Jungai Park, Educational Support Officer for Migrant Youth, Gimpo Foreign Citizen Support Center
Daehee Ku, Secretary General, Dongcheon Foundation
Sooyong Maeng, Teacher, Inchang High School
Youngah Kim, Executive Director, Migration to Asia Peace
Yoseop Seok, Executive Director, Gipum Nanum
16:50 – 17:30 | Open Insights Session
This session has been designed to discuss important topics that could not be covered in the sessions above. Forum participants will have the opportunity to share refugee-related initiatives, future plans, creative approaches, and emerging challenges concerning refugee issues in Korean society. We hope this session will contribute to future collaboration and network-building.
Moderator
Wan Lee, Representative, Solidarity for Asian Human Rights and Culture
Penalists
Junghyun Cho, Secretary General, Jeonju YMCA
Mafuta Freddy & Umutesi Cynthia, Refugee Activists, Team
Nani Lee, Advisor, Jumma People’s Nework-Korea
Anila Noor, Executive Director, New Women Connectors
17:30 – 18:00 | Closing Session
KRF 2025 Outcomes
Reflections by Refugee Reference Group
Closing Remarks
Co-host Organizations
Stefan Maier, Deputy Representative – Protection, UNHCR Korea