KUALA LUMPUR - Migrant rights groups in South Korea have filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea over the exclusion of most foreign residents from government fuel relief payments.

The groups, including the Gyeonggi Migrants’ Equality Coalition, said a large share of foreign residents have been left out of the latest support scheme, as reported by The Korea Herald.

They cited figures showing that of about 2.167 million foreign residents who have stayed in South Korea for more than three months as of March, around 1.785 million have been excluded.

This group does not include marriage migrants, permanent residents and recognised refugees, who remain eligible under current rules.

The relief programme is currently accepting applications.

It began on Monday with basic livelihood security recipients, low-income households and single-parent families.

The initiative aims to cover about 70 per cent of the population.

Payments range from 100,000 won to 600,000 won per person.

The scheme is designed to offset rising fuel prices and broader living costs.

At a press conference in Seoul, migrant rights representatives criticised the exclusion policy.

Udaya Rai said the burden of higher fuel prices is not linked to nationality.

“The impact of high fuel prices does not depend on nationality. Migrant workers live and work alongside Korean citizens and should be treated equally,” he said.

Lee Jin-hye, who represents the petitioners, said the policy amounts to discrimination.

She argued that excluding foreigners based on residence registration status or visa category is arbitrary.

The National Human Rights Commission has previously taken a similar view.

However, its rulings are nonbinding and serve only as recommendations.

In March, it recommended expanding eligibility for foreign nationals in economic support programmes.

It had also previously called for the inclusion of foreign residents in COVID-19 emergency relief payments in 2020.

Authorities have not yet announced whether they will revise the current eligibility rules following the complaint.