A group of 22 refugees from Myanmar arrived at the Incheon International Airport on Wednesday for the kick-off of South Korea's three-year pilot resettlement programme led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
43-year-old Ku Htoo, along with his family, landed in the country after decades of living in a refugee camp, as reported by Korea Joongang Daily Thursday.
"I feel alive. I deeply thank Korea for inviting us, and for embracing us," Ku Htoo said.
He added, "It was too dangerous to live in Myanmar. There was too much war. I had no other choice but to leave and reach the refugee camp. Life at the camp was difficult. I couldn't freely leave the grounds."
Ku Htoo and the rest of the refugees will be under the care of Korea Immigration Service within six to 12 months. The first batch of refugees will be given job training and will take up Korean-language courses.
"I haven't put much thought into my future yet. I'm first planning to fit in here, and then I'll gradually ponder how I'll make a living," Ku Htoo said.
Through the initiative of UNHCR, South Korea becomes the 29th country in the world and second in Asia to allow refugees for resettlement through the Refugee Act. (Courtesy of en.koreaportal.com)
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