Choi Gyeong-il, director of Together Foundation’s North Korean Defectors Employment Support Center, said, “As of this past June, the number of North Korean defectors is reported to be 30,380. We must pay attention now to the stable settlement of these former North Koreans in our society, realizing that after reunification there will be many times more people coming from the North and needing to adjust to life here.”
Choi pointed out, “It is difficult for former North Koreans to get jobs, and they are often exposed to harsh labor environments even when they succeed in finding a place to work. Therefore it is necessary to build an ecosystem to support them.” Choi emphasized that the church is capable of taking the lead in constructing a collaborative system together with the public sector and professional civil agencies. Church circles can provide devoted human resources for the North Korean defectors ministry.
Miral Welfare Foundation Representative Jeong Hyeong-seok requested concern for disabled persons in North Korea, who are the “minority of minorities.” He explained, “In North Korea, disabled persons are the object of severe discrimination and abuse… Newborn babies with innate disabilities are buried as soon as they are born. And disabled persons are banned entry into regions where many foreigners reside.”
Jeong continued, “For the rehabilitation of disabled persons, early diagnosis, treatment and education programs are necessary. And specialized schools need to be established for students with developmental disorders. Organizations for disabled persons in North Korea need to develop advanced skills to make correctional equipment and medical instruments such as wheelchairs and crutches, and there is a need for comprehensive rehab centers for the disabled.”
Yang Seung-gu, vice-representative of Compassion, highlighted the need for constant support of children in North Korea, who are even weaker than children in Africa. He said, “There are some 5.27 million children in North Korea. The rate of underweight children among those younger than 5 years of age is 15%. That is 1.2% higher than in Malawi. The rate of children with chronic malnutrition is 28%, 5% higher than in Ghana.” He added, “North Korean children live in an oppressed society where they are obliged to monitor and criticize each other. Many suffer from depression, lethargy and low self-esteem. Simple financial support is not enough. Holistic education is needed to nurture them emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.”
As for indicators of how well former North Koreans have settled in the South, their employment rate is 55%, 6% below the national average (61%), according to a survey done last year by the Korea Hana Foundation. Their average monthly wage is 1,629,000 won, which is 68.8% of the national average (2,368,000 won). In addition, one out of four respondents answered that they have experienced discrimination because they came from North Korea.
Reporter DongWoo Kim (love@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Photo by senior reporter Kang Min Seok
Illustration by Young Eun Lee
Original Article in Korean:
北 핵실험에도… 교계 통일 사역 멈출 순 없다: 남서울은혜교회-합동신대원대 공동 주최 통일선교 콘퍼런스
