Gyeonggi-do Leads Efforts for Stable Community Integration of North Korean Defectors

Gyeonggi-do North Korean Defectors Support Regional Council Held at Northern Government Complex on the 8th
Strengthening Cooperation Among Local Organizations to Support Stable Settlement of North Korean Defectors in the Province

Gyeonggi Province is holding the '2024 Gyeonggi Province Regional Council for North Korean Defectors Support' on the 8th at the Situation Room of the Northern Office of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government.

On the 8th, Gyeonggi Province held the '2024 Gyeonggi Province Regional Council for North Korean Defectors Support' at the Northern Government Complex Situation Room.

The 'Regional Council for North Korean Defectors Support' is a consultative body established to efficiently promote settlement support projects for North Korean defectors through organic cooperation among related local institutions and to explore future policy directions. It is composed of related institution officials and experts involved with North Korean defectors, including the Vice Governor for Administration (the chairman), the National Police Agency, Employment Welfare+ Center, and Regional Adaptation Center.

At the council meeting, the status of the '2024 North Korean Defectors Settlement Support Project' was shared, and discussions were held regarding new projects for the coming year.

This year, Gyeonggi Province has allocated approximately 2.76 billion KRW to 14 projects to support the stable settlement of North Korean defectors. The main project areas include ▲establishing an economic self-reliance foundation ▲supporting the formation of healthy families ▲communication, harmony, and awareness improvement projects targeting both South and North Korean residents ▲strengthening integrated safety management to resolve settlement crises for North Korean defectors.

In 2025, based on the results of the 'Study on Improvement Measures for the Gyeonggi Province North Korean Defectors Settlement Support System' and comprehensive review of suggestions from meetings with North Korean defectors, the province plans to discover and implement settlement support projects that truly meet the needs of North Korean defectors.

As of the end of July 2024, the number of North Korean defectors residing in Gyeonggi Province is 11,104, accounting for 35.3% of the nationwide population of 31,391, which is the largest number among all metropolitan local governments nationwide.

Oh Hu-seok, Vice Governor for Administration of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized, “Gyeonggi Province will strengthen its support capabilities for North Korean defectors through public-private collaboration,” and added, “We will do our best to help North Korean defectors overcome difficulties in the early settlement and self-reliance process and successfully settle in our society.”