Court upholds refusal of refugee status, finding a family property dispute is not a ground for recognition

Who this helps

This may be useful for people whose refugee applications were refused after they said relatives in their home country threatened them. It shows how the court viewed a case rooted in a family property dispute.

Case overview

Case number

2026구합20

Court

Jeju District Court

Posted on original board

Sep 30, 2026 (Wed)

Topic

Refugees

Original title (Korean)

가족 간 재산분쟁으로 인한 위협은 난민 인정 사유에 해당하지 않는다며 난민불인정 처분이 정당하다고…

The person who applied for refugee status claimed that family members in the home country had assaulted and threatened to kill them, and that the home country's police took no action after a report. After the Head of the Jeju Immigration and Foreign Affairs Office decided not to recognize refugee status, a lawsuit was filed seeking cancellation of that decision.

Can threats arising from a family property dispute lead to refugee recognition?

The applicant said family members in the home country beat and threatened to kill them, and that the home-country police took no action after a report. After the head of the Jeju Immigration and Foreigners Office refused refugee status, the applicant sued to cancel that decision. The court found no materials supporting the claims. It also found the cause was a private dispute arising from a family property quarrel.

How the court ruled

The court found no materials to support the grounds claimed by the applicant. It also judged that the grounds were a private dispute arising from a family property conflict, and did not amount to a fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, as set out in the Refugee Act. The court therefore dismissed the claim.

What to check in a similar situation

Immigration and foreigner offices can explain the refugee application procedure and the decision made. Courts can explain the lawsuit procedure, including how supporting materials are handled.

• Find your immigration office
• Find support centers
• Contacts: Immigration Contact Center 1345

Terms explained

refusal of refugee status

A decision by the administrative authority not to recognize an applicant as a refugee.

persecution

Under the Refugee Act, the test is a fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

dismissal

The court finds the plaintiff's claim without merit and does not accept it.

More rulings on this topic

• Ruling that upheld the cancellation of refugee status granted on the basis of false statements · Seoul Administrative Court
• Ruling Cancelling Decision Not to Refer Guinean National's Refugee Application for Examination · Busan District Court
• Court overturns decision not to refer refugee applications for examination · Jeju District Court

See all 29 rulings on Refugees →

Frequently asked questions

Who brought the lawsuit?

A foreign national who applied for refugee status and was refused sued to cancel the decision of the head of the Jeju Immigration and Foreigners Office.

How did the court rule?

The court found no supporting materials and held that a private dispute from a family property quarrel is not a fear of persecution under the Refugee Act. It dismissed the claim.

Does this result apply to every similar case?

No. It is the court's ruling in that case and does not apply as is to other cases.