Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
S. Korea to merge defector resettlement centers as arrivals from North decline
A mental health center for North Korean defectors at Hanawon / Korea Times file photo
By Kim Hyun-bin
South Korea’s Ministry of Unification plans to merge its two resettlement centers for North Korean defectors next year as the number of arrivals continues to fall sharply, officials said Friday.
A ministry official said the government has decided to move forward with integrating the main Hanawon resettlement center and its branch facility, with a final decision on the location — either Anseong in Gyeonggi Province or Hwacheon in Gangwon Province — expected soon.
Unification ministry Deputy Spokesperson Chang Yoon-jeong said during a regular briefing that the move reflects a continued decline in the number of defectors entering South Korea.
“We are reviewing integration measures and related personnel reassignments to ensure efficient operations,” she said.
The plan was included in the ministry’s policy agenda for next year, which was reported to President Lee Jae Myung on Dec. 19.
The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has fallen sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic. Arrivals peaked at 2,914 in 2009 but dropped to 1,047 in 2019. After North Korea closed its borders in 2020, the number fell to 229 and declined further to 63 in 2021. Last year, 236 defectors entered the South.
The decline has led to a sharp drop in residents at the facilities. The Anseong center, which primarily accommodates women, currently houses about 50 to 60 defectors and their children, while fewer than 10 trainees remain at the Hwacheon branch.
While a final decision has not been made, officials say Anseong is currently favored due to better staff housing, despite aging facilities. The Hwacheon site, although newer, would require additional infrastructure, such as educational facilities for children.
Chang said South Korea is considering lifting its decades-old ban on the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s official newspaper, by reclassifying it from “special materials” to general access — a move reflecting a belief among officials that a media-savvy public no longer requires state protection from Pyongyang’s propaganda.