Yangcheon-gu Supports Learning Expenses and Mentoring for North Korean Defectors

MOU Signed with Gangseo-Yangcheon Academy Operators Association and Yangcheon-gu Council of the National Unification Advisory Council
Learning Expense Support and Emotional Mentoring for North Korean Defector Students
Up to 2 Million KRW Per Person for Academy Fees and One-on-One Mentoring Provided

Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced on the 9th that it will begin providing learning expense support and emotional mentoring to North Korean defector students who have a strong will to learn but face difficulties due to economic circumstances.

Commemorative photo of the business agreement for learning support for North Korean defectors on the 6th. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

Starting this year, the district will offer customized learning and emotional programs through the "North Korean Defector Student Learning Support Project." According to research results (Seoul Institute 'Survey on North Korean Defectors', 2023) showing that education expenses rank second after food expenses in the living costs of North Korean defectors, the plan is to support stable independence and growth of North Korean defector students living in the area as well as those born in third countries by providing learning expense support.

To this end, the district has established a cooperative system for supporting North Korean defector students by signing a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gangseo-Yangcheon Academy Operators Association and the Yangcheon-gu Council of the National Unification Advisory Council. Through collaboration with the Academy Operators Association, the district will support up to 2 million KRW per person for academy fees discounted by 50%, and through one-on-one partnerships with advisory members of the National Unification Advisory Council, it will help alleviate stress caused by cultural communication differences and unfamiliar environments.

The support targets elementary, middle, and high school students from North Korean defector families residing in Yangcheon-gu (including students born in third countries). This year, the district plans to select 10 students based on economic status, academic motivation, and urgency of support, and begin support from the end of this month.

Meanwhile, as of this month, there are 951 North Korean defectors residing in Yangcheon-gu, the highest number among the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul. The district has so far supported employment assistance, cultural and artistic activities, and social network formation programs in cooperation with local welfare centers, the Red Cross, and community organizations. In particular, it has promoted activities such as a side dish volunteer group composed of North Korean defectors, art workshop programs, and the Unification Kimchi-making event to help alleviate social isolation and improve adaptation to the local community.

In addition to learning support this year, the district plans to discover customized support projects through contests for North Korean defector support and operate various support programs to help North Korean defectors settle well as members of the local community.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae said, "I hope this project will serve as a foundation for North Korean defector students, who face various difficulties such as cultural differences and learning gaps, to build confidence in their studies and gain emotional stability," adding, "We will continue to strive to prepare practical support measures for North Korean defectors."