Canada has granted refugee status to a mentally ill South Korean woman and her daughter on grounds the treatment of psychiatric patients in their homeland is so inadequate, it amounts to persecution.
Mi Sook Oh, 42, initially sought refugee status in Canada by claiming she had been persecuted in her native South Korea by a church representative who had “poisoned everyone against her,” and she had been arrested and held three times against her will.
. . .
The Immigration and Refugee Board determined she was, in fact, persecuted — not by a church representative, but by a South Korean health-care system that mistreats mentally ill patients.
Oh suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and had been forced into mental institutions three times in South Korea without treatment or medication, the refugee board concluded.
Based on that mistreatment, the board granted Oh refugee status in October.
From an immigration and policy analyst and lawyer, Richard Kurland:
This decision means Koreans with mental illnesses can become refugees while other potential immigrants with mental illnesses who are seeking residency under categories such as that for skilled workers, could be denied entry if immigration officials determine the mental illness could be too expensive for the health care system or social services, Kurland said.
And from the consul at the South Korean embassy in Vancouver:
"I think the mental ill people are well taken care of in my country - better than in Canada," he said. "So I cannot believe her story."
* Update: Turns out she has been keeping a blog.
33 comments:
"I think the mental ill people are well taken care of in my country - better than in Canada," he said. "So I cannot believe her story."
I call bullshit.
If you're calling BS on the standards of care for the mentally ill being better in Korea, then I agree.
But if you're calling BS on the consul's statement, I would have to say it sounds right. Given Koreans' propensity to begin sentences with "So", this sounds very Korean to me.
Wait... there are mentally ill people in Korea? I thought that wasn't allowed...
There was an article in one of the Korean papers a while back that said that a very large percentage of the Korean population suffers from mental illness. Does anyone have the link?(I thought it said 75%, but I may be wrong). Add to this the various personality disorders (including passive/agressive disorder) and it no wonder that they are jumping to get out of life.
If you try to get help for mental illness or personal problem, you are labelled as crazy or they will tell you that nothing is wrong. I doubt Koreans are being medicated for mental illness when they need to be.
After my own personal tragedy, I sought professional help. I couldn't deal properly with what happened, so I met once a week with a psychiatrist who helped me talk through my pain. My diagnosis was situational depression. After two months, I felt better able to cope with what happened.
In Korea, this situation would be impossible.
I will venture to say that most Koreans suffer from Passive-agressive disorder. Check out the link...sounds familar?
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000943.htm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
That link on passive-agressive disorder, which I was so keen to read up on.... was blocked! funny on multiple levels
Mental illness, just like homosexuality, only came to Korea through the Japanese. They polluted the pure Han blood.
(The homosexuality thing was actually said to me by an old co-teacher.)
I want to kick all those Conservative posters in the face in that Vancouver Sun article.
I've been saying passive-aggressiveness has been ingrained in the culture for a while. Thanks for linking that.
This is me posting---I want to kick all the bleeding heart liberals in the face. Send her back to Korea. Why is this Canada's problem?
It hardly sets a massive precedent. Canada has the most open refugee policy in the entire world, and if it sets a precedent at all it would only set it for one particular type of mental illness.
Some highlights from her blog:
I want to leave Canada.THE MOST HORRIBLE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
(her caps)
I feel vomit when I see Canadians.
The whore mass madia like Vancouver Sun
I really realy want to leave this horrible country. (the door's open)
Candians MUST FEEL SHAME ON YOURSELVES.
(no, not really, until I heard the verdict)
They know our sistuation. That's why they (Canada) keep doing this kind of crime against us.
Mother fuckers, Vancouver Sun.
I want enough compensation money and safty. Then I will stop writing and I will close this blog
(Your wish is Canada's pleasure)
(about Obama) This NIGRO JERK...This jerk is only trying to protect himself and FUCK with his black penis in the White House....I will call that jerk Nigro forever.
Making people get free was one of my great achievements.
(yes, no doubt)
I'm not a Jim Carrey in The Truman Show. (Interesting-- a crazy that knows the difference between appearence and reality-- the definition of sanity)
Yeah..it sounds like I'm crazy.
(Yes, it does, but you were crazy in Korea, brought up in Korea, raised in a society that doesn't care or admit to mental illness, so it's Korea's problem, not Canada's.)
This blog's impact is so much huge.
(It's starting to be, once people actually learn how Canada got swindled)
I feel vomit when I see black.They put black people in everywhere....here was no black here in Vancouver..."
(I didn't know racism was a sign of schizophrenia. I learned something. Imagine that)
This crazy woman yelled
(the Englishwoman) "There is too much freedom in Canada." So I said " Then go back to your country !"
(Her most ironic statement, addressed to an Englishwoman complaining about Mrs. O in the laundry room of her apartment)
Yeah, welcome to Canada. The Canadian government doesn't let me use my Health Card when I return from Korea until 3 months are up, having to buy private insurance, but I still have to pay taxes on my income from Korea, I guess to help out Mrs.O.
Bienvenue Au Canada!!!
"I've been saying passive-aggressiveness has been ingrained in the culture for a while.
As someone who moments ago in the middle of a torrential downpour was splashed like I thought only happened in the movies by a taxi whose jerkstore driver clearly saw me on the sidewalk yet declined to slow down even a little, I think you just might be on to something there.
Samuel -
You are not a psychologist, and you know nothing about mental illness, and you appear to lack even the most basic of faculties for empathy, so please desist from any further obnoxious inanity.
Steven Bee
Actually I have a B.A in psychology and an M.A. I worked in the mental health ward of St.Michaels in Toronto.
It is you who should desist from talking out of his butt.
I have a lot of sympathy for the mentally ill. Please tell me why this is Canada's problem, and not Korea's. Why should Canadians have to flip the bill?
How does a lack of mental health facilities equal persecution? Give me a break.
"Actually I have a B.A in psychology and an M.A. I worked in the mental health ward of St.Michaels in Toronto.
It is you who should desist from talking out of his butt.
I have a lot of sympathy for the mentally ill. Please tell me why this is Canada's problem, and not Korea's. Why should Canadians have to flip the bill?
How does a lack of mental health facilities equal persecution? Give me a break."
You have a BA in psychology but you are unable to perceive obvious signs of pathological paranoia in those blog rantings? And the definition of sanity is the ability to discern appearance and reality, is it?
It is Canada's problem because Canada, as part of its ambitions towards being a proper country, has agreed to take up its duty of care towards those who would face intimidation and harm from other governments. In doing so in this case, it is additionally sending a laudable and powerful message to South Korea: Sort your mental healthcare system out.
Why should Canada do this? Put simply, because it can. It is fulfilling its duty very much in the Kantian sense of the term, for which I salute it.
Steven Bee
You have a BA in psychology but you are unable to perceive obvious signs of pathological paranoia in those blog rantings? And the definition of sanity is the ability to discern appearance and reality, is it?
Hmm, it seems you cannot read so maybe you should stick to architecture. I agreed that she seemed crazy, while yes, that is the hallmark definition of sanity. Even if she is crazy, the real issue is why I have to pay for her.
It is Canada's problem because Canada, as part of its ambitions towards being a proper country, has agreed to take up its duty of care towards those who would face intimidation and harm from other governments.
So Canada wasn't a proper country before Mrs.O claimed refugee status?
You should also really learn to read. Canada didn't agree to take up this problem, it was forced to by a judge. Canadian Immigration opposed her refugee claim. So Canada had no legal duty to help mentally ill refugee claimants until now.
Also, she claimed persecution, not intimidation and harm.
In doing so in this case, it is additionally sending a laudable and powerful message to South Korea: Sort your mental healthcare system out.
Why is this Canada's responsibility? Why not go somewhere else?
How laudable and powerful is the message when the Canadian government opposed her refugee claim?
Can't Korea fix its own problems? Why should I have to pay to fix Korea's health care problems? Does Korea send Canada money to help us fix our problems?
Why should Canada do this? Put simply, because it can.
So can the U.S, England and many othe coutries. Just because we can help her, doesn't mean we should.
Every dollar spent on this woman is one less dollar spent on Canadians that need treatment. Money for mental illness is tight. It should go to Canadians first before Koreans.
It is fulfilling its duty very much in the Kantian sense of the term, for which I salute it.
Which Kantian term would that be?
Every one has a universal moral duty to spend his own money on foreigners that didn't contribute to the health care system? How do you go from claimin a general duty to help this woman to a normative statement that Canada has a duty for this womann?
Nice try at Kant, who is rolling in his grave at a misunderstanding and abuse of his ethics. Try again.
Knock off the bickering. I won't have you two be responsible for yet another thread closure.
Samuel - I sincerely hope that you are nb in disguise, because it chills me to think that God would curse his earth with someone else as equally dunder-witted and prick-like.
'What Kantian term would that be?' That would be the term used directly prior to the phrase 'in the Kantian sense of the term', i.e. duty.
You really are far too thick to speak to, so directly below is the line that I am drawing under our dialogue. Ready for it? ... Here it comes:
--------------------------
I don't get why anyone is upset that a crazy woman said some crazy things. Seems equal to being mad that a person with a cold sneezed.
I hope the Canadian government does not come to regret a decision that may get messy in the future.
After reading this woman's blog for a bit, my conclusion is: "Is this woman fit to be a mother?"
How is the little girl suffering from moving around the world, having her mom thrown in jail and mental institutions. I think the women really wants the best for her daughter; is she capable of giving her the stability necessary to grown up properly?
nb is my alter ego. I dont need another one. If I did, I'd have to seek asylym in Vancouver. Besides...I am a California boy....I would never claim to be a Canadian. Steve Bee is a troll; I think it best to ignore him.
Samuel,
She asked for help. Canada listened.
She indicated that she was persecuted by her church. The Canadian government discovered that that was not entirely accurate: That it was her own country that was taking away some of her human rights. Meaning the Canadian government took the time to investigate her claim and felt the situation was MORE SEVERE then she was letting on. This means that Canada did not take her situation lightly. This was not something our government simply stamped and filed away without looking into. This was not done without care.
If we don't stand up and defend people's human rights, even those of crazy people or people who say nasty things about our own country, then who will?
Wow...
I never thought Brian would have socks and trolls on his blog.
Looks like you've moved up in the cyberworld.
I hate Korea so much...
Steven Bee: Take a logic class. Still waiting for you to explain how Canada has a duty to care for this woman. Nice way to win an argument--draw a line in the sand. Sounds like middle school
This is me posting--your interpretation of Canada's motives is wide of the mark. The Canadian government didn't want this woman. So why am I the bad guy for agreeing with my own government? Canada was forced to take her.
James--nice argument. When you cannot win, call someone a name. You must be Steven Bee in disguise.
From reading her blog, she seems to be saying the government was persecuting her at the behest of a fraudulent minister. I'm not familiar with Canadian law, but I doubt this case throws open the door for any mentally ill person to seek asylum in Canada. Rather it seems she was able to make out a non-innovative case for political asylum.
Nathan:
I guess you skipped over half the article:
The Oh case opens the door to other mentally ill people from South Korea seeking refugee status in Canada, said Richard Kurland, an immigration and policy analyst and lawyer.
...the immigration minister appealed the decision to prevent similar future claims. "They likely were concerned about the floodgate potential the case represents," he said.
South Koreans do not require a visa to visit Canada, making it easier to enter and claim refugee status..."
Of course Mr. Kurland says that -- he is an immigration lawyer. Taking those cases pays his bills. He doesn't actually know what the government's strategy on appeal -- they almost certainly haven't even filed their brief yet, so he is only speculating that they fear a floodgate.
I doubt it is going out on a limb to predict this case will not lead to any floodgates being opened. However, only time will tell. Perhaps in five years you can say you told me so.
Nathan
There is nothing in the article that states Kurland worked for the side denying Mrs.O her status. It appears he wasn't involved in the case, unless you know something I don't. So he opinion is all the more important.
There are also two immigration departments mentioned in the article:one for and the other against Mrs.O's claim.
That Mr.Kurland is an immigration lawyer doesn't mean that what he says cannot be true.
Yes, I will make sure I keep your email for 5 years hence.
Samuel:
I with you on this, brother.
I agree 100% with everything you said. However, I must also admit that, as Steve Bee says, I lack empathy.
this is really old, so excuse the late commenting, but thanks for the link to her blog. my mom (korean) met this woman in person (we live in vancouver) and we were weirded out when we found out afterwards that she is mentally unstable... she and my mom were complete strangers but she insisted on getting my mom's phone number
No problem, thanks for visiting and commenting.
Post a Comment