Defectors Struggle in Capitalistic South

By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

Many of the 12,000 North Korean defectors in the South are struggling to make ends meet as they are unable to acclimatize themselves to life in a capitalist country.

They tend to fall prey to fraud and face invisible discrimination from South Koreans, while resettlement money is insufficient for them.

Upon arrival here, North Koreans undergo a three-month-long mandatory adjustment program at ``Hanawon,'' a state-run education institute for North Korean defectors located in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. During this period, they learn how South Korean society runs through lessons on Korean law, culture, capitalism and so on. They are also required to master essential ``skills'' to make a living here including driving and computer skills. In addition, their unique accent, commonly used in the reclusive state, is subject to the adjustment program.

``The education at Hanawon was not that helpful. In addition, three-months is too short to learn enough information to live in the South independently,'' a North Korean defector, who arrived in Seoul in 2006 via China, told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity. ``I realized the lessons I received there were theoretical and unrealistic rather than pragmatic.''

``I think the education at Hanawon may be helpful to those with little or no exposure to capitalism. Currently, however, most defectors spend several years or up to a decade mostly in China before coming to Seoul. It means most defectors are already well aware of how South Korea is run. But the government has stuck to an archaic education program,'' the defector said.

The former North Korean blamed the government for giving unrealistic subsidies.

``Only 350,000 won ($350) is given to each defector per month. Worse still, the subsidy continues only for the first six months. After paying housing fees, insurance premiums and pension fees, we have almost nothing to spend,'' the 37-year-old defector said.

The former North Korean stressed that employment is the most important yet difficult mission for new comers from the North. But there has been no improvement in the job market for North Korean defectors.

``Most South Korean businesses are still reluctant to hire us,'' she said. ``Some of them look down on us, saying they cannot trust North Koreans,'' the defector said.

Such discriminative treatment is extended to marriage.

``In most cases, North Korean defectors look for a South Korean spouse. But it's not easy at all,'' she said. ``I have seen some North Korean women get married to a South Korean male, but vice versa is rare.''

To deal with this, Songpa Police Station officers had an outing Saturday with hundreds of North Korean defectors residing in the southern Seoul district, to help them remove psychological, cultural and social barriers to fit in with South Korean society and serve as an opportunity for them to be together with South Koreans.

In Songpa alone, there are 349 North Korean defectors, an officer from the police station said. Songpa is the most favored district in Seoul because of affluent long-term lease apartments reserved for former-North Koreans.

The annual event, which began in 2006, was sponsored by a supporting group for North Korean defectors made up of 32 members.

Moon Youn-hwan, 61, head of the supporting group, said ``Those who are still unfamiliar with South Korean society usually believe nobody but themselves. They hesitate to open their minds to reveal their true feelings to others for fear of reprisal they experienced in the North.''

Moon said the supporting group will hold the event continually alongside a variety of educational programs for defectors in the area to embrace them more closely and let them feel comfortable here.

Apart from the event, Songpa Police Station runs a variety of other programs through the year for North Korean defectors in the district.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr

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