From an Old Promise to a New Path on Campus UNLABELED Visits the 2026 Refugee Forum: "The 75th Anniversary of the Refugee Convention: An Old Promise, A New Practice"
July 24, 2026 | Youngone Hall, Seoul National University Asia Center Hosted by: Refugee Research Network, UNHCR Representation in the Republic of Korea Organized by: Migration and Refugee Research Group, Center for Central Asian Studies, Seoul National University Asia Center  
In 2026, marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Refugee Research Network and the UNHCR Representation in the Republic of Korea held the 2026 Refugee Forum at Young-one Hall in the Seoul National University Asia Center under the theme of "The 75th Anniversary of the Refugee Convention: An Old Promise, A New Practice." UNLABELED, a human rights student organization at Chungnam National University, also attended the forum to reflect on how refugee protection in Korean society can be expanded through institutions in the future. This forum did not stop at commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention as a past achievement. Through concrete agendas – refugee status determination, resettlement and complementary pathways, socioeconomic inclusion and local integration, and meaningful participation of refugees – it was a place to ask what Korean society must do today and to put our heads together to seek answers. UNLABELED is currently working to establish an education-based complementary pathway for refugee students at Chungnam National University. Therefore, the role of universities discussed in this forum was not an abstract policy agenda for us, but a very specific task that we wish to introduce on campus. Refugee Convention's 75th Anniversary: Action Starting from 'Dialogue' Opening Ceremony & Welcoming Remarks  
Opening remarks began with welcoming and congratulatory speeches from Shin Beom-shik, Dean of the College of Social Sciences at Seoul National University; Stephan Maier, Deputy Representative of the UNHCR Representation in Korea; and Kim Chi-wan, Director of the Tamla Culture Research Institute at Jeju National University. All three speakers commonly emphasized that refugee protection is not a task for a specific institution or nation alone. The message was that the principles of protection can operate in real life only when the government, international organizations, universities, research institutions, civil society, local communities, and refugees themselves participate together. The Refugee Research Network, which co-led the forum, is composed of various research institutions including the Institute for Migration and Social Integration at Konkuk University, the Social Welfare Research Institute at GNU, the Center for Central Asian Studies at SNU Asia Center, the Good Democracy Research Center at Sungkyunkwan University, the Migration Research and Training Centre (MRTC), the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Jeonbuk National University, the Tamla Culture Research Institute at Jeju National University, and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies & the Beyond Borders Research Center at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. The fact that researchers across various regions and academic fields address the refugee agenda together demonstrates that refugee protection goes beyond a legal and administrative matter to encompass education, welfare, local communities, and international politics. This forum was structured around five agendas among the "Ten Actions" presented by UNHCR for the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention that particularly needed to be discussed in the Korean context. Specifically, these were Strengthening Refugee Status Determination Systems (Action 2), Expanding Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (Action 6), Strengthening Inclusive National Systems (Action 7), Local Integration (Action 9), and Promoting Meaningful Refugee Participation (Action 10). Keynote Speeches In the keynote speech delivered via video, Patrick Michael Eba, Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection (Policy and Law Series) at UNHCR, described the Refugee Convention not as a document stuck in the past, but as a living international commitment that protects human life and dignity today. The lecture by Choi Yoon-chul, Director of the Institute for Migration and Social Integration at Konkuk University, helped participants understand the historical context through which the Refugee Convention was formed. It provided an opportunity to trace the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the expansion of its scope through the 1967 Protocol, and the current reality of approximately 120 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide in 2026. It was a time to reflect on how the principles of the Convention should be realized amid today's complex refugee issues rather than remaining a promise of the past. 
“Fairness and Efficiency Can Go Together” [Presentation 1] Strengthening Refugee Status Determination Systems (Action 2) Kam Na-young, Legal Officer at the UNHCR Representation in Korea, explained that efficiency and fairness in refugee status determination are not opposing values but values that can coexist. Accelerating determinations should not come at the expense of sufficient review of individual cases or procedural protections; rather, providing accurate information and appropriate legal assistance in the early stages can reduce unnecessary re-applications and administrative backlogs. Listening to the presentation, we reflected on the fact that 'fast determination' does not automatically mean 'good determination.' For refugees, status determination is not a simple administrative procedure, but a process on which their ability to stay safely and plan their future lives depends. Next, Attorney Lee Jong-chan from the public interest law center APIL (Advocates for Public Interest Law) explained the difficulties faced by asylum seekers during the determination process, based on his experience with meeting refugee applicants in person and providing legal support. Hearing about field issues such as shortage of personnel, absence of early legal aid, and structural difficulty in conducting sufficient merit reviews reaffirmed that when discussing refugee protection systems, the experiences of people within the procedure must always be viewed alongside.  
“Education Goes Beyond Admission: A Path Connecting Mobility, Learning, and Self-Reliance” [Presentation 2] Expanding Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (Action 6) Professor Won Geun Choi from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies introduced the JISR (Japanese Initiative for the Future of Syrian Refugees), a case of Syrian refugee student reception by the Japanese government. Japan provided master's degree education, living support, Japanese language training, and settlement assistance to Syrian refugee youth residing in Jordan and Lebanon. The presentation demonstrated that accepting refugees should not be viewed merely as a matter of one-time relief, but from the perspectives of education, international cooperation, and long-term social relationships. Subsequently, Professor Jeonghyeon Kim of Chungnam National University presented measures to expand domestic complementary pathways, emphasizing that education pathways should not stop at simple university admission approvals. For refugee students to actually continue learning and settlement, comprehensive support connecting entry, visas, academic record/document recognition, living expenses, dormitories, language support, peer mentoring, and post-graduation career paths and residence status is required. Professor Kim introduced the cases of ISOW (International Students Overcoming War) at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada and Pathways Pilipinas in the Philippines. What stood out most about ISOW was the active involvement of the student community in fundraising, settlement support, and mentoring. Rather than viewing refugee students simply as beneficiaries of charity, ISOW welcomes them as equal members of the campus community. The Philippine case also offered valuable insights into how the government and multiple universities can work together, with each taking on distinct roles, to institutionalize education-based pathways. The special admissions track that UNLABELED intends to propose to Chungnam National University stems from these very same concerns. Opening the doors of a university is not limited to providing an opportunity for admission. It is enabling a person to learn in a safe environment, meet friends, and continue their life within the local community. This presentation reaffirmed that the education pathway we seek to establish must consider scholarship, housing, language, living, and career support together alongside admission criteria.  
“Inclusion to Be Guaranteed Within Communities and Institutions” [Presentation 3] Strengthening Inclusive National Systems (Action 7) and Local Integration (Action 9) In the third session, socioeconomic inclusion and local integration of refugees were discussed. Choi Young-il, Director of the Gimpo Foreign Resident Support Center, introduced the reality of refugee and migrant-background children and youth increasing within local communities, conveying the necessity of a support system encompassing education, living, and career development. Professor Kim Hyun-ok from GNU explained the issue of 'internalized borders' experienced by undocumented children through an analysis of media coverage surrounding the Birth Notification System. The message was that borders exist not only on the outside of a nation, but can also function in everyday spaces such as schools, hospitals, and administrative agencies in ways that exclude certain individuals. Inclusion does not end with permitting someone's entry. Everyday inclusion becomes possible only when opportunities to build relationships in education, healthcare, housing, labor, and local communities are guaranteed. As universities are not spaces isolated from local communities, UNLABELED intends to develop support measures for refugee students in connection with the Daejeon local community moving forward.  
“Nothing About Us Without Us” [Presentation 4] Promoting Meaningful Refugee Participation (Action 10) The fourth session was focused on the theme of Meaningful Refugee Participation. Kim Young-ah, Representative of Migration to Asia Peace (MAP), introduced the process through which the organization grew into its current form, explaining what organizational efforts were needed for refugees to become co-decision-makers in policies and activities rather than simple beneficiaries. In particular, the experience of hiring refugee activists within MAP, operating a refugee advisory group, and reflecting the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in actual organizational management left a strong impression. It highlighted that democracy is not completed merely by listening to opinions in meetings, but is a continuous process of asking who can participate in agenda setting, decision making, implementation, and evaluation. Shaima shared her experience of starting as a refugee beneficiary receiving help from MAP and now working as a MAP activist connecting refugees and the local community. The journey of visiting schools and universities to share her story, and communicating with people across language barriers through art and storytelling, left a deep resonance. The phrase "Nothing about us without us" captured the core of this forum well. UNLABELED, which seeks to establish systems for refugee students, also learned that the experiences and voices of those directly affected must be placed at the center of all future discussions.  
Meaningful Refugee Participation session. The voices of refugees were addressed as the starting point for co-creating policies. An Unexpected Conversation During Lunch After the morning session ended, UNLABELED members had lunch with Stephan Maier, Deputy Representative of the UNHCR Representation in Korea. In a setting different from the forum’s formal presentation sessions, we had the opportunity to share the questions and concerns we had encountered through our club activities. Having the opportunity to sit at the same table and speak directly with someone shaping the broader landscape of refugee protection and international cooperation made us realize that students are by no means removed from these important discussions. Although it was a brief conversation, it was a precious meeting that reconfirmed the reasons why UNLABELED must continue to study, cooperate with more people, and carry on its activities. We also received a promise that the Deputy Representative would personally visit Daejeon next time.  
UNLABELED members with Stephan Maier, Deputy Representative of UNHCR Korea, during lunch hour. Thematic Group Conversations and Discussions Following the presentations, group conversations and discussions took place based on the presented topics. Participants discussed each agenda—refugee status determination, complementary pathways, community inclusion, and refugee participation—in greater detail, discussing the institutions and collaborative approaches needed in Korean society. Moving beyond merely listening to presentations, the process of people from different fields and majors exchanging questions served as an important significance of this forum. Synthesis Discussion In the subsequent synthesis discussion, the contents discussed in each group were shared with all participants. UNLABELED member Yang Jun-ho stepped up to the podium as a presenter for the Topic 3 group, delivering the message that multi-level governance is necessary for the socioeconomic inclusion and local integration of refugees, and that the roles of supporting institutions and political actors are also important. It was a meaningful opportunity that a student did not remain merely a passive audience member, but became an active participant summarizing and presenting discussion outcomes.  
Student Yang Jun-ho presenting the discussion results of Topic Group 3 during the synthesis discussion. During the Q&A session, UNLABELED’s Vice President Im Seo-yun asked a question regarding 'multi-level governance,' the key term permeating the entire forum. Im Seo-yun asked what roles and tasks UNLABELED, as a student human rights organization striving to create change from the bottom up, could perform within multi-level governance. In response, Director Choi Yoon-chul advised students to take interest in local governments and local ordinances close to their community and take direct action so that change can be built from where they are. 
Vice President Im Seo-yoon asking a question about the direction of multi-level governance that student organizations can put into practice during the Q&A session. This advice gave UNLABELED a clear and practical direction to carry forward in its future activities. To build an education-based complementary pathway for refugee students, we must find ways to connect local communities, local governments, and civil society together, beyond institutional changes within the university. The forum provided an opportunity to turn the ideas we had previously envisioned into more realistic and achievable goals. Making an Old Promise a New Opportunity for Students This forum demonstrated that refugee protection cannot be discussed through the language of law and administration alone. Fair determination, safe complementary pathways, inclusion within local communities, and participation of those affected were not separate tasks, but interconnected conditions sustaining a single human life. UNLABELED intends to continue its activities so that an education-based complementary pathway and special admissions track for refugee students can be established at Chungnam National University. Many questions remain to be resolved. Sufficient discussion is required regarding who will be selected by what criteria, what support will be needed after admission, and how universities and local communities should divide their roles. However, what became clear through this forum is that people discussing these questions and creating answers together already exist across academia, civil society, international organizations, and universities. UNLABELED will also translate learning into action within these connections. Forum Reflections Professor Jeonghyeon Kim, Chungnam National University “This year is a meaningful year commemorating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The 4th Refugee Forum held at such a meaningful time was a valuable occasion to look back on the efforts and cooperation of various actors for refugee protection and to seek future tasks together. At this forum, based on the Ten Actions presented by UNHCR, we reflected on the present state of refugee protection and discussed future action tasks together. Through the process of participants from various fields—including international organizations, civil society, and universities—sharing their experiences and expertise to discuss ways to cooperate, I could feel once again that refugee protection can develop further through continuous solidarity and cooperation among diverse actors. Nine students, including current students and graduates from Chungnam National University, participated in this forum. The students also had a meaningful time having lunch with Stephan Maier, Deputy Representative of the UNHCR Representation in Korea, exchanging views on potential cooperation between UNHCR and university student clubs. This experience will have served as a precious opportunity for students to understand the meaning of refugee protection and international cooperation more closely and directly encounter the possibilities of collaboration between universities and international organizations. Next year's Refugee Forum is scheduled to be held at Chungnam National University. I look forward to this year's discussions and achievements leading to broader cooperation, and to the university developing further as a major partner in expanding education pathways for refugee students.” Hye-sun Kwon, President of UNLABELED “First of all, I express my sincere gratitude to the hosts and organizers for creating such a meaningful place where we could participate in deep discussions and learning in the refugee field. It was a truly precious time to meet and converse directly with expert role models who are dedicated to refugee human rights in the field. In particular, the personal story shared by Ms. Shaima, a refugee herself, left a deep resonance. This forum was a valuable time that felt like experiencing in advance the future direction and vision our student organization, UNLABELED, should pursue. Carrying the warm inspiration and realizations gained from the field in our hearts, we will continue to strive to create change within the university. We express our gratitude to the Refugee Research Network, UNHCR Representation in Korea, the Migration and Refugee Research Group at SNU Asia Center's Center for Central Asian Studies, and all presenters, discussants, and participants who prepared this forum. UNLABELED will continue to discuss and practice refugee protection not as a distant issue, but as a task of human rights to be built together in our university and local community.”  
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