Lawmaker says 200 Syrians fleeing war have arrived in South Korea seeking refugee status

SEOUL, South Korea – Seoul's spy service has told lawmakers about 200 Syrians fleeing war have arrived by airplane in South Korea, but the government has yet to decide whether to grant refugee status to any of them.

It wasn't clear over what time period the Syrians had arrived, but the office of lawmaker Shin Kyung-min said Wednesday that National Intelligence Service chief Lee Byoung Ho told lawmakers that they are mostly wealthier individuals who could afford to fly.

Shin's office says Lee told lawmakers there are no particular sign suggesting the country has become vulnerable to terrorist attacks by the Islamic State group or its supporters in the wake of the attacks in Paris.