"I Want to Go Back North"... Defectors from North Korea Complain of Economic Hardships

105 North Korean Defectors Until June This Year
Need for Sustainable Support Measures

Recently, a North Korean defector in their 30s was caught attempting to cross the border at the Tongil Bridge, highlighting the increasing number of defectors struggling to adapt in South Korea. Most of them complain of economic difficulties, moving from one day labor job to another after government support ends.

The area along National Route 1 connecting Unification Bridge in Paju, Gyeonggi Province to Kaesong Industrial Complex. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

On the 4th, Kim (29), a defector, said, "I have dreamed of returning to the North dozens of times," adding, "As someone in a similar situation who left family behind in the North, I deeply empathize with this incident." Lim (27) said, "When I first came to South Korea, I received settlement support for 2 to 3 years, but after that, the support stopped, and I lived as a basic livelihood security recipient," and lamented, "I know many defectors receive basic livelihood benefits, so I hope there will be more discussion about the duration and scale of support." Park (24) expressed frustration, saying, "Coming alone to a strange land, I have to manage and learn everything from scratch, but often I feel lost because I don't know where or how to ask for help."

As of the end of June, there are 34,183 North Korean defectors in South Korea. The number of arrivals has steadily increased, with 63 in 2021, 67 in 2022, 196 in 2023, and 105 up to June this year. However, the Ministry of Unification's support budget for this year decreased by 4.475 billion KRW compared to last year. Park, the representative of a defector community platform, emphasized, "The Ministry of Unification oversees all projects including employment, entrepreneurship, and scholarship support, but lacks expertise," adding, "Various civic groups and organizations need to actively collaborate with central government agencies."

Experts pointed out the need for more meticulous policies for defectors. Professor Lim Eul-chul of the Far East Institute at Gyeongnam National University said, "This attempted border crossing incident reveals the living conditions of many defectors," advising, "Sustainable support measures are necessary to help them develop the ability to become self-reliant in South Korea." Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University’s Department of North Korean Studies stated, "A more detailed approach than the current government support policies for defectors is needed."