A war leaves scars not only on those who are attacked, but also in many ways on people on the aggressor’s side.
Russia’s war against Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has killed and wounded countless Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. But the war has also driven many Russian men to leave their country to avoid conscription. Some have ended up seeking refuge in Korea.
In 2023, Koreans heard stories of Russian asylum seekers stranded for months at Incheon International Airport, unable to enter the country as they sought protection.
A few months later, however, those stories disappeared from the news — and, I have to admit, from my mind.
Then, in June, more than four years after the invasion began, I encountered a self-described Russian asylum seeker in Seoul.
