Nearly 20 minors held in Korea’s immigration detention facilities: lawmaker

What happened: Seventeen foreign nationals under 18 were held in Korean immigration detention facilities as of August, per Rep. Park Eun-jung's office. Eight were at the Hwaseong center and nine at Cheongju. Key numbers: 17 minors held as of August. 84 under-18s detained between 2022 and July this year, 79 unaccompanied. Youngest under 1 year old. Longest detention 197 days. Why it matters: UN bodies and Korea's National Human Rights Commission have recommended ending child detention, but bills proposed last year have stalled. A lawyer said minors remain in the same environment as adults.

Seventeen foreign nationals under 18 were held in Korean immigration detention facilities as of August, per Rep. Park Eun-jung's office. Eight were at the Hwaseong center and nine at Cheongju.

UN bodies and Korea's National Human Rights Commission have recommended ending child detention, but bills proposed last year have stalled. A lawyer said minors remain in the same environment as adults.