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An Iranian-born student celebrates the recognition of his refugee status with his classmates and friends at a schoolyard in Seoul on Oct. 19. (Kang Chang-kwang

“Wow, congratulations!” “That’s really awesome!” “Great job!”

Around 2 pm on Oct. 19, a cheer rose from the sports field of a middle school located in Seoul’s Songpa District, where 15 or so friends of Iranian student “A” were nervously awaiting the results of his application for refugee status. As 15-year-old A held a document “hot off the press” from the Ministry of Justice that confirmed his refugee status, his friends crowded around him and shouted with excitement. After staring for a while at the photo of A that appeared in the document, one of them said, “Too bad your nostrils are so big,” triggering peals of laughter.

A’s friends had all gone home from school after an athletic event that morning, but they raced back as soon as they heard the good news. “When my refugee application was rejected before, they only gave me one sheet of paper. But since they gave me a whole folder this time, I knew I’d gotten refugee status,” A said with a smile. Review is still pending for his father’s refugee application, however.

Born in Tehran in 2003, A came to South Korea with his father, a businessman, in 2010. A began attending elementary school and converted to Catholicism while in the second grade. He carelessly mentioned this fact in conversation with his aunt, who lives in Iran, and the news spread, which now makes it dangerous for him to go home. A devout Muslim, A’s aunt was enraged and cut off communication with him. Since Iran strictly abides by Islamic Sharia law, converting to another religion is a serious crime punishable by death.

Afraid that his aunt might have reported him to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, A asked the South Korean government to grant him refugee status in 2016. When the Ministry of Justice rejected the request the same year, A and his father filed an administrative lawsuit. A district court granted them refugee status, but this ruling was reversed on appeal and by the Supreme Court.

A got some major assistance in his two-year struggle to gain recognition as a refugee from his buddies from school, who eagerly got involved when he asked the government to reconsider his case. In July, they posted a petition on the Blue House website asking for their friend’s case to be fairly examined. And when A submitted his second application for refugee status at the Seoul Immigration Office on July 19, his friends were there holding placards that said, “Look at the reality behind the prejudice.” His friends also took turns holding a one-person demonstration in front of the Blue House fountain on Oct. 5.

“When I heard the news about the refugee status, I gave him a hug to congratulate him,” said Park Ji-min, 15, who has been A’s best friend since the first grade of elementary school.

“Our struggle doesn’t seem that bad after all, and I’m just overcome with emotion,” Park said with a big grin on his face.

“I got really upset when I saw comments on news articles saying that our teacher had brainwashed students into taking action, but I was happy to hear about the good results,” said 15-year-old Kim Ji-yu.

“I’m grateful and proud of these students, who have shown through their actions a love of humanity that is hard for even adults to achieve. I will create a systematic support system to ensure that this foreign student can proudly stand as a member of our society,” said Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hui-yeon in a position statement.

“I shed a tear or two after getting refugee status,” A said. “The visa problem meant I couldn’t go to high school, but I’m glad that I get to keep going to school with my friends.”

“While attending an academy for models, I’ve done three or four fashion shows so far. There are a couple hundred more to come!” A, who wants to be a fashion model, said, beaming brightly.

By Shin Min-jung and Hwang Chun-wha, staff reporters

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