South Korea designates arriving Afghans as ‘persons of special merit’

Seoul skirts fraught issue of refugees as it fulfils moral responsibility' and welcomes 391 newcomers

South Korea has welcomed the arrival of Afghans who supported its operations prior to the Taliban control of Afghanistan, designating them as persons of special merit" instead of refugees in an apparent effort to defuse anti-migrant sentiment.

A military aircraft landed at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, in the afternoon, transporting 378 Afghans who worked for South Korea's embassy and other facilities in Afghanistan, as well as their family members. A further 13 will be arriving on a separate flight.