First Palestinian refugee recognized in South Korea, calls for end to Gaza violence

In a landmark decision, South Korea has granted refugee status to Sale Al-Alanti, a 29-year-old individual from the Gaza Strip, marking the first time a Palestinian from the region has received such recognition. Al-Alanti, who applied for refugee status in March 2023, expressed his deep desire for peace and freedom in Palestine.

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I want to live peacefully in Palestine as soon as it regains its freedom.

Al-Alanti was born in Gaza City in 1997 and has experienced multiple conflicts, including wars in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021. He arrived in South Korea in December 2022 and has been working in used car sales while advocating for Palestinian human rights. The refugee recognition is a significant personal victory, but Al-Alanti emphasized that it is a temporary solution, stating, "No one dreams of living as a refugee. I want to live peacefully in Palestine as soon as it regains its freedom."

His family, including his parents, siblings, and wife, miraculously survived the latest escalation of violence in Gaza that began in October 2023. Al-Alanti shared his joy at being able to bring his wife to South Korea now that he has refugee status, which allows him to invite immediate family members under the Refugee Act. However, he stressed that the immediate priority is not refugee acceptance but stopping the ongoing violence and what he described as "genocide" by Israeli forces in Gaza.

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It is more urgent to stop the Israeli army from committing genocide than to accept refugees.

South Korea's refugee recognition rate remains extremely low, with only 135 out of 14,626 applicants receiving status last year, a rate below 1%. Al-Alanti acknowledged his fortune in receiving a decision within three years, noting that many others wait five to seven years. He appealed to major countries, including the U.S. and European nations, to intervene for peace in Palestine, suggesting that without their support for Israel, Palestinians would not need to flee their homes or seek refuge elsewhere.

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If the United States and some Western countries did not support Israel, we would not have had to leave Gaza, and we would not have had to expect them to accept us as refugees.