To Prevent Swaying with Regime Changes... Legalization of 'Day of North Korean Defectors'

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The 'Day of North Korean Defectors' (July 14 every year), first established and implemented by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, will be designated as a legal commemorative day. The purpose is to ensure that policies regarding North Korean defectors remain consistent and are pursued steadily regardless of the administration in power.

Park Chung-kwon, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

According to the office of Park Chung-kwon, a member of the People Power Party, the partial amendment bill to the Act on the Protection and Settlement Support of North Korean Defectors (North Korean Defectors Act), which Park introduced as the main proposer in June, passed the National Assembly plenary session yesterday. The bill primarily designates the 'Day of North Korean Defectors,' which held its first event this year, as a legal commemorative day.

President Yoon Suk-yeol had instructed the establishment of the Day of North Korean Defectors at the Cabinet meeting in January this year. Accordingly, it was established as a national commemorative day by presidential decree, but with this legal amendment, its status has been elevated to that of a legal commemorative day. The government expects this will also help secure the necessary personnel and budget to carry out related events. Above all, by explicitly stating the symbolic commemorative day of the Day of North Korean Defectors in the law, the continuity of related policies can be guaranteed even if the administration changes between progressive and conservative governments.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is taking a commemorative photo with South Korean youth and North Korean defector youth choirs at the '1st North Korean Defectors Day Ceremony' held at the Blue House Reception Hall in July this year. Photo by Yonhap News

The Ministry of Unification, which oversees policies for North Korean defectors, is also expected to gain strength. Having undergone repeated organizational restructuring, the Ministry of Unification is evaluated to have solidified its position with the first Day of North Korean Defectors event held in July this year. It was the first time the Ministry of Unification solely led and directed an intergovernmental event presided over by the President and attended by ministers.

Assemblyman Park Chung-kwon said, "As a member of the National Assembly representing 34,000 North Korean defectors, I am overwhelmed with emotion that the Day of North Korean Defectors has been designated as a legal commemorative day," emphasizing, "It will become a symbol that gives hope and courage to North Korean residents and defectors." He added, "I will continue to pay special attention to North Korean human rights and the settlement issues of defectors."