In this study, issues of status and governance of Koreans from Ukraine were analyzed based on their experiences seeking asylum due to the war between Ukraine and Russia (Russian name: Special Military Operation) on February 24, 2022. The research findings are as follows.

Koreans leaving Ukraine and entering Korea are not classified as refugees but rather as migrants. Ukrainian Koreans, however, had the status of their compatriots abroad. In this regard, Koreans clearly have the right to the protection of the Korean government as overseas compatriots. However, the Korean government does not provide support to Korean refugees from Ukraine. The reason is the lack of a legal or institutional mechanism. In conclusion, this study discusses how migration management operates and emphasizes the need for Korean society to establish new norms or institutional frameworks to protect those in the blind spot.