North Korean Defectors and Hana Center Director Attend
A Time to Hear Vivid Voices Directly from the Field
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 21st that it held an on-site communication meeting to support the settlement of North Korean defectors on the 20th at Hwaseong Cultural Center, attended by the Hana Center director, North Korean defectors, and officials involved in settlement support work.
Gyeonggi Province held an on-site communication meeting to support the settlement of North Korean defectors on the 20th at Hwaseong Cultural Center. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
The meeting was organized to more effectively promote the settlement support projects carried out by the province for the stable settlement of North Korean defectors in the province and to share various difficulties and challenges they face while settling in the local community.
At this on-site meeting held in Hwaseong City, the area with the highest population of North Korean defectors in Gyeonggi Province, participants discussed various measures to promote settlement support for North Korean defectors and expressed the difficulties they directly experience in the field and daily life, conveying suggestions and requests.
The province plans to comprehensively review the opinions and suggestions raised at the on-site meeting and actively reflect them in future settlement support projects for North Korean defectors.
Meanwhile, this year, the province has allocated and is implementing a budget of approximately 2.76 billion KRW for 14 projects to support the stable settlement of North Korean defectors, including △establishing an economic self-reliance foundation △supporting the formation of ‘healthy families’ △communication and harmony projects between South and North Korean residents to create ‘warm neighbors’ △strengthening integrated safety management to resolve settlement crises for North Korean defectors.
Additionally, reflecting the results of the ‘Study on Improvement Measures for Gyeonggi Province’s North Korean Defector Settlement Support System’ conducted from May to November last year and the suggestions received so far, new projects such as medical support and support for children’s learning expenses will be launched in 2025, and existing employment training will be expanded to include entrepreneurship education, thereby strengthening settlement support projects.
Cho Chang-beom, Director of the Peace Cooperation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, “This meeting will be an important opportunity to hear voices from the field directly and prepare practical support measures,” adding, “We will continue to communicate with the field and improve policies going forward.”
Meanwhile, as of the end of September this year, the number of North Korean defectors residing in Gyeonggi Province totals 11,131, the highest in the country. This accounts for 35.5% of the nationwide total of 31,393.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
