South Korea province issues ID certificates to 144 undocumented migrant children

Gyeonggi Province has successfully implemented its pioneering 'Public Confirmation System for Undocumented Children of Migrant Backgrounds,' issuing 144 child identification certificates to children previously outside the formal system. This initiative, launched for the first time in South Korea by a provincial government, aims to connect these vulnerable children with vital support services, including medical care, childcare, and welfare programs.

The system, operated in 10 cities and counties within the province as of the end of June, officially confirms the existence of children whose birth registrations are incomplete due to their parents' immigration status or procedural hurdles. While the certificate does not grant a new nationality or residency status, it serves as official documentation from a public institution, enabling access to essential social welfare services. This administrative recognition acts as a crucial bridge for children who would otherwise face significant barriers to basic necessities.

Human rights organizations estimate that between 10,000 and 20,000 undocumented children reside in South Korea. Gyeonggi Province, having the largest population of children with migrant backgrounds and multicultural families, faces a particularly high number of such cases. These children often lack resident registration numbers or alien registration numbers, making it difficult to enroll in childcare facilities, afford medical treatment, and access other fundamental rights and services, thereby threatening their well-being and human rights.

In line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child's principle of the 'best interests of the child,' Gyeonggi Province has formalized collaborations with organizations like Save the Children Korea, Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, UNICEF, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul's Migrant Pastoral Committee. This public-private partnership aims to strengthen the support system by facilitating the discovery of undocumented children, issuing confirmations, linking them to existing welfare programs, and ensuring ongoing case management. Gyeonggi Province's immigration social affairs director, Kim Won-gyu, emphasized the right of every child to safety and healthy growth, regardless of their birthplace or parents' status, vowing to expand the program's reach across the province.

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Regardless of the country of birth or parents' residency status, all children have the right to be protected safely and grow up healthily.