The number of North Korean defectors in South Korea will likely break the 20-thosuand mark as early as this month or next month. According to the Unification Ministry, 19,700 North Koreans have defected to South Korea as of the end of last month. Until the late 1990s, the number of North Korean refugees arriving in South Korea lingered around just 1,000. But the number began to increase sharply in the 2000s, surpassing 1,000 in 2002 alone. And more than 2,000 North Korean defectors have fled to the South each year since 2006. The accumulated number of new North Korean settlers may top 20-thousand as early as late October, given that an average of 200 North Koreans come to the South each month. Now, the number of North Korean expatriates is large enough to launch a county-level local government here in the South. Here’s Professor Yu Ho-yeol from the North Korean Studies Department at Korea University to explain the significance of the 20-thousand mark.

The 20-thousand North Korean newcomers could organize a local community here. That is, a small North Korean society is being formed within South Korean society. When people in South and North Korea have no problem living together, and when they find it more beneficial, unification will be possible. If those North Korean defectors successfully resettle in South Korea or if they are sure of that possibility, South Koreans can expect to live with many more defectors, and even with the 23-million North Korean people across the border. In this sense, we find great significance in the defectors who have found a new life in South Korea.

In line with the increasing number of defectors, reasons and forms of their defection vary. The Unification Ministry says most defectors escaped North Korea alone in the initial stage, but 40 percent of the defectors who recently arrived in South Korea brought their family members along. Also, 40 percent of the refugees have family members who had defected to the South earlier. In the past, most defectors were men who were strong enough to endure the grueling process of defection. However, the men-to-women ratio in defectors began to reverse in 2002, and the number of women defectors has increased year after year. The ministry explains that women can travel more freely than men in North Korea and they find it relatively easy to make a living in China. Previously, many chose to escape North Korea for political reasons because they were dissatisfied with the communist regime, while more people are now fleeing from North Korea in search of a better life or economic reasons.

By region, people living in economically marginalized or isolated areas tend to escape the country, while the number of such defectors is small in Pyongyang, a relatively affluent area. The biggest reason for leaving their home country is, of course, to avoid economic difficulties and find a better life. Many defectors are still hiding out in China, where they get new information about South Korea but are exposed to safety threats at the same time. These days, more North Koreans seem to be fleeing the country for a number of reasons, other than economic ones.

Upon arriving in South Korea, North Korean newcomers receive a 12-week rehabilitation program at Hanawon, a resettlement center for Northern defectors. After that, they are given government subsidies and houses as well as various support packages, such as job training and special admission into universities, all of which are designed to help them start a new life. But not everyone can resettle in South Korean society successfully. Many newcomers face difficulties adjusting to a new South Korean environment due to emotional confusion and cultural estrangement. According to last year’s report by the Unification Ministry on 599 North Korean defectors who lived in South Korea longer than six months, it was found that the share of people who did not engage in economic activities amounted to three percent more than of those who did. It was also found that some had never earned money. The biggest stumbling block to resettlement is the physical and emotional pain the defectors have suffered in the course of escaping North Korea and various diseases they struggle with. Professor Yu continues to explain.

The defectors feel a sense of alienation here in South Korea, which is completely different from the outdated, socialist North. Their urgent task is to overcome this problem and become financially stable. An increasing number of young North Koreans, including teenagers, are coming to South Korea. It’s important for the young defectors to make the most of their studies in college in order to survive in the competitive South Korean society. The government, for its part, must provide a social safety net to those who defected from North Korea all alone, who often find it hard to start a new life here.

Experts note that it is more important to lay the foundations for the new settlers to live independently in the capitalistic South Korean society than to simply give them special treatment. They stress the need for creating appropriate support systems tailored to stages of resettlement, support areas and different defector groups, and establishing a government-civilian network for more systematic support policies. To answer the rising call, the government pledges to manage the entire process of resettlement of North Korean defectors: it has recently launched the Foundation to Support Residents Defecting from North Korea. More importantly, experts call for South Koreans to change their perceptions about North Korean expatriates, who should be viewed as their partners.

When only a small number of North Koreans defected to the South, the public was curious about them, showing interest in them. In this era of 20-thousand defectors, however, they are no longer an object of curiosity. They’re living with South Koreans now as members of this society. In fact, many South Koreans still have biased views on defectors from the North because they think the defectors are different. Of course, the newcomers must understand the situation objectively and make their own efforts to help the public cast away such prejudices. But South Korean people also need to pay attention to the important roles of North Koreans in society and demonstrate more patience and consideration.

North Korean defectors were once considered aliens who belong to neither South Korea nor North Korea. But they are not such strangers any more. On the contrary, they could serve as a bridge linking South and North. It’s time to help the newcomers take a firm root in South Korean society and pursue coexistence and common prosperity in preparation for the unification of Korea.



[Interview] Aid Group Committed to Sending Milk to Children in N. Korea A special ceremony takes place at Pier No. 1 at the Port of Incheon every Friday afternoon before a ship sets sail for North Korea. The ship is loaded with a large supply of milk and powdered formula to be sent to North Korean children. This aid project has been carried out by “Sharing Together Society,” a private group dedicated to North Korean aid. Here’s the group representative Jeong Chang-yeong to tell us more about the milk aid program.

We’re sending milk and baby formula to North Korean infants and children aged between six months and four years. As you know, North Korea has suffered from food shortages for years. The supplies are sent by ship from Incheon Port to Nampo Port, which is close to Pyongyang. From Nampo Port, they are delivered by land to childcare centers in Pyongyang, North and South Pyongan Provinces and North and South Hwanghae Provinces. Babies and children in that age group are usually taken care of at childcare centers, so we’re sending milk there.

The former Yonsei University professor began to engage in support activities for North Korean children after his retirement in March 2008. Jeong wanted to do something worthwhile after retirement, and he decided to help starving North Korean children as recommended by Rev. Han In-cheol who served as a chaplain in Yonsei University. According to testimonies from North Korean defectors, many North Korean mothers feed their babies with rice flour mixed with tap water or river water because they don’t produce much breast milk. As a result, the infant mortality rate is pretty high in North Korea, and many North Korean children suffer from chronic malnutrition. Whenever meeting people, Mr. Jeong underlines that even small donations can give such great hope to North Korean children, using the term, “the happiness of 10,000 won.”

10,000 won, or 9 US dollars, may amount to a lot to poor people. But the heartfelt donations of 10,000 won can give milk to North Korean children every day. We chose milk and powdered formula because they are rich in basic nutrients, including calcium. The warm donations are used to save precious lives across the border. I believe the donors will find their contributions meaningful and rewarding.

Sharing Together Society celebrated its first anniversary recently. Thanks to the donations of the 5,500 group members, the group can send 20-thousand cartons of 200 milliliter milk to North Korea every week. This amount can feed 4,000 children. At the request of North Korea, the group also delivers one ton of cheaper powdered milk, which can feed even more children. The shipments have been sent to the North each week, with the exception of the two weeks directly after the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in late March.

The shipments were suspended for two weeks after the Cheonan incident. Except for that period, we’ve been able to send the aid regularly and steadily, although the amount wasn’t very large. The government allowed humanitarian aid for North Korea, especially assistance for the vulnerable sector, such as pregnant women, infants and children. I think our continuous provision of aid contributed to creating mutual trust between North and South Korea, though only in a small way.

Even after retirement, the former professor gives lectures on “National Economics” at Yonsei University. The lectures are not about the theories of macroeconomic indexes but are focused more on practical issues, such as income, medical care, housing, employment, finance and inter-Korean relations. He says helping North Korean children can also be explained from the viewpoint of “National Economics.”

As a scholar studying economics, I think Korea’s biggest, long-term task is reunification. We should teach young students correctly and properly, since they will lead this nation in the future. I try to teach the importance of unification to my students, as economic and non-economic benefits from unification will be enormous, even if unification may cost a great deal of money. When the two Koreas are unified again, it’s important for South Koreans to win the hearts of Northern people by reminding them that South Koreans helped them when they were in difficult situations, rather than turning their backs on them. I think it’s absolutely necessary for the South Korean people to extend a helping hand to their brothers and sisters in North Korea at a time of need.

Mr. Jeong emphasizes that helping North Koreans will comprise the first step toward easing the strained inter-Korean relations. He expresses his hope to continue the aid project until the day when one million North Korean children can drink milk every day. We hope Jeong and his group will remain steadfast in their distribution of humanitarian aid.