| Protesters lie on the ground during a rally against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, near the Russian Embassy in Seoul, Feb. 28. AP-Yonhap |
The government granted Ukrainians in South Korea stay extensions on humanitarian grounds, Monday, in the wake of Russia's invasion of the Eastern European nation, the justice ministry said.
The measure will apply to 3,843 registered Ukrainian nationals here. If they wish to remain in South Korea after the expiration of their visas, the government will issue them with temporary stay permits that will also allow them to get jobs, according to the ministry.
The government will also allow those whose period of stay has already expired to remain in the country until after the situation stabilizes.
In March of last year, South Korea granted similar extensions to Myanmar nationals after the military coup in the Southeast Asian country.
South Korea also airlifted more than 390 Afghans who worked with Koreans dispatched to Afghanistan, and their family members, in August last year under a military mission, as the evacuees faced possible Taliban retaliation for having supported foreign operations.
On Sunday, around 300 Ukrainians in South Korea and local supporters held a protest against Russia's invasion in front of the Russian Embassy in Seoul. The Ukrainian community here plans to stage a rally every week until Moscow stops its military actions. (Yonhap)