[Defectors Landing Unexpectedly]③Experts Say "Settlement Support Must Change Its Focus"

Experts: "Focus on Social Integration, Not Just Simple Support"
Isolation & Women... "Measures Needed Considering North Korean Defectors' Characteristics"
Disorganized Crisis Management System Also a Problem
Kwon Young-se: "Considering Overhaul from Scratch"

Editor's NoteThere was a time when the expression "the unification that came first" attracted attention to refer to North Korean defectors. It fully reflected the government's determination toward the paramount task that "the settlement of North Korean defectors is unification itself." However, North Korean defectors who escaped oppression and came to South Korea are still treated as "outsiders." Why did the expectations, which were so desperate that they risked their lives to leave their hometowns, collapse? This article examines the difficulties faced by North Korean defectors who landed unexpectedly in the South and seeks alternatives.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The Ministry of Unification has begun work to supplement the support system with related ministries following a series of solitary death incidents among North Korean defectors. Experts pointed out that the focus should be on "settlement" itself rather than mere economic support. They emphasized the need to establish standards considering the characteristics of North Korean defectors and to follow up with systemic changes accordingly.

"Measures Considering 'Characteristics' to Improve Accessibility"

The Korean Peninsula flag and the Taegeukgi symbolizing a "Unified Korea" [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jang In-sook, Senior Researcher at the South-North Hana Foundation, stated in an interview with Asia Economy on the 30th, "Customized support considering 'their characteristics' is necessary to provide stable settlement support for North Korean defectors who are more vulnerable and face complex difficulties than the general public."

Senior Researcher Jang analyzed, "To support North Korean defectors stably, collaboration among the central government, local governments, and the private sector must be strengthened. In addition to livelihood and employment support, measures are needed to expand support bases that can alleviate social isolation and strengthen the foundation for social integration."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's support services for vulnerable groups and the Ministry of Employment and Labor's employment support service delivery system may be effective for North Korean defectors with a strong will for independence. However, Jang pointed out that accessibility is low for those with poor physical and mental health or those who cannot overcome cultural and language differences and thus have a high level of vulnerability.

He cited the "Support Project for North Korean Defector Mothers" previously promoted by the South-North Hana Foundation as an example. This system was transferred to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family because it was similar to the ministry's maternal helper support project, but no separate support was prepared for North Korean defectors. From the perspective of defectors who suffer from social discrimination and are reluctant to reveal their identity, the convenience and accessibility of the service significantly decreased.

"Seven out of Ten Are Women... Support System Focused on 'Women'"

Women and Childcare [Image source=Yonhap News]

Professor Yoon In-jin of the Department of Sociology at Korea University also suggested the importance of institutional improvements considering the characteristics of North Korean defectors. Professor Yoon especially focused on "women." Since women account for over 70% of North Korean defectors, resolving the difficulties they face is a prerequisite for overall improvement.

Professor Yoon pointed out, "Recent research on North Korean defectors shows that women have lower income levels and employment rates than men and are even worse off than marriage immigrant women. The main reasons women face difficulties in employment are, first, health problems, and second, childbirth and childcare issues."

He presented the worst-case scenario as women who are basic livelihood security recipients, raising children as single parents, and lacking family support during the child-rearing process. This is the reality that North Korean defector women actually face.

Professor Yoon advised, "Although childbirth and childcare difficulties are common among general women, North Korean defectors are isolated from parents, relatives, or institutional support, making it harder to receive assistance. It is necessary to actively discover and provide appropriate medical services, childbirth and childcare support, and programs that help balance work and family life for female North Korean defectors."

"Disorganized Management System, Need for Reorganization Centered on the Ministry of Unification"

South-North Hana Foundation
[Image source=Yonhap News]

There were also calls for improvements to the system itself. Professor Jung Jae-hoon of the Department of Social Welfare at Seoul Women's University pointed out the fragmented management system scattered across the Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Health and Welfare, South-North Hana Foundation, and local governments, advising that the system should be reorganized centered on the Ministry of Unification, which oversees North Korean defector issues.

Professor Jung said, "There are doubts about whether the Hana Center supporting North Korean defectors is functioning properly and whether conditions for effective operation are in place. As problems faced by defectors continue and social interest in their settlement grows, it is necessary to consider collaboration between the Ministry of Unification and local governments at the ministry level rather than operating through consignment."

Currently, the structure is such that the Ministry of Health and Welfare surveys vulnerable households among the entire population, and the Ministry of Unification's Safety Support Team intervenes only in households that local governments cannot manage. The Hana Center, selected by the Ministry of Unification, is responsible for settlement support in normal times, but in reality, it is not a dedicated agency but operates under consignment to general welfare centers.

For example, the Hana Center responsible for the area where a North Korean defector woman, found last month as a "skeletonized corpse," lived, employs 10 welfare workers, while the number of registered defectors is about 1,700. Among them, about 850 agreed to provide personal information and are under management, and about 70 are crisis management targets. Although this seems small compared to the total, welfare workers are responsible for crisis management of defectors as an "additional" task on top of basic welfare center duties, making it difficult to devote full attention. This is not limited to this center alone.

Professor Jung suggested, "Just as there are elderly welfare centers and disability welfare centers divided by roles, we should consider establishing independent welfare centers or centers dedicated to supporting the settlement of North Korean defectors. Realistically, it is necessary to secure budgets uniformly at the Ministry of Unification level and operate centers through collaboration with local governments in neighborhoods with many defectors."

Kwon Young-se: "Considering Overhauling the System from Scratch"

Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se [Photo by Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Unification is currently reviewing the crisis management system following a series of deaths among North Korean defectors. It acknowledges the chaotic situation caused by the dispersed support system across government ministries, public institutions, and local governments and is working with related ministries to devise countermeasures. However, the specific direction of the improvement work has not yet been decided.

Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification, expressed strong determination regarding the support system for North Korean defectors, saying, "We are considering overhauling the entire system from scratch." He especially emphasized, "We will also strengthen the system to alleviate the mental suffering experienced by defectors during the settlement process," drawing attention to potential solutions for resolving "social isolation."

An official from the Ministry of Unification explained, "The government has made many efforts to enable North Korean defectors to settle stably and early, but there are still shortcomings. We are currently reviewing the existing system comprehensively with related ministries, focusing on institutional improvements."

The political sphere is also busy seeking solutions. Tae Yong-ho, a member of the People Power Party and the first North Korean defector to become a district constituency lawmaker, held a forum on the 23rd following a series of solitary death incidents among defectors and formed a task force (TF) to devise countermeasures. At the forum, there were calls for measures considering the unique characteristics of defectors, and Tae proposed more practical improvements such as post-support for expenditures for vulnerable households, simplification of administrative documents, and amendments to the North Korean Defectors Act.