Issues and problems of adaptation of North Korean defectors to South Korean society: an in-depth interview study with 32 defectors

Abstract

The number of North Koreans defecting to South Korea is increasing rapidly. They are important people to South Korean society not only for humanitarian reasons, but also for their impact on the future Korean unification and the integration of the two different South and North Korean peoples. However, the defectors have experienced many difficulties in their adaptation to South Korean society due to their own characteristics and due to the misunderstandings of the South Korean people. To obtain comprehensive qualitative data about the characteristics and difficulties of North Korean defectors' adaptation to South Korean society, 58 semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed with 32 defectors who had entered South Korea from 1990 to 1997. Four categories of adaptation difficulties were encountered, which are related with the defectors' suspiciousness, different ways of thinking, searching for new sets of values, and with the prejudice of the South Korean people. Finally, three areas of suggestions for the more successful adaptation of the defectors to South Korean society were made; a need for more comprehensive perspectives on the defectors' adaptation, suggestions regarding educational programs and suggestions for educating the South Korean people.

Correlation between traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder among North Korean defectors in South Korea

“…Recent studies have reported on the vicious circle that exists between the mental health and PTSD symptoms in refugees and their living conditions in their new environment (Kivling-Boden, & Sundbom, 2002;Lavik, Hauff, Skrondal, & Solberg, 1996). It also has been reported that defectors experience psychological difficulties and economic hardships in the process of adapting themselves to South Korean society (Jeon, 1997b(Jeon, , 2000. Therefore, the evaluation of the trauma experienced by defectors while adapting themselves to South Korea will be discussed in a follow-up study.…”

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Isolation among North Korean Refugee Women in South Korea: The Moderating Role of Formal and Informal Support

“…Refugees may find resettling in a new society difficult due to limitation of occupational opportunities [70]. Moreover, language and cultural differences between the two Koreas [71] may be important factors that aggravate social isolation. North Korean refugees consider economic independence as the most important condition for living in South Korean society [72].…”

“…In addition to employment issues, North Korean refugees face language and cultural barriers [71] (p. 4). In the past 50 years, the two Koreas have seen significant changes in their respective cultures and languages.…”

Retos y tareas de Educación para una Ciudadanía Global en Asia Oriental: política de asimilación de los estudiantes de familias multiculturales en Corea del Sur

“…Korea, due to its post civil war division, has been preoccupied with the peaceful unification of the country. Although the two Koreas, prior to their division, share a common history, language and traditional values, their prolonged separation has produced two different peoples living by different social and cultural norms (JEON, 2000). This paper argues that global citizenship education is more applicable to Korea as the concept of embracing cultural diversity, since it would increase Koreans' understanding of each other, may help to build momentum towards a future peaceful unification with North Korea.…”