Panel Calls for Steps for Easier Naturalization of N. Korean Refugees
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
A group of North Korea experts Thursday called for the easing of regulations on naturalization so that children of North Korean refugees would be able to obtain nationality here.
Rep. Hwang Woo-yea of the governing Grand National Party told a seminar held at the National Assembly that children living in China or Russia are unable to acquire nationality there as their parents are still considered North Koreans in those countries.
``The second generation of North Korean refugees in the two countries have no nationality due to a lack of legal support. This is the case of the children whose parents are Chinese but were born in the North and came to the South later, too,'' said the lawmaker.
Due to their unique nationality status, Hwang said these children are not eligible to get adequate protection and help from the government even after they come to the South.
Other panelists agreed with the lawmaker.
Professor Jang Bok-hee of Sun Moon University claimed that the government should apply special consideration to the children who have no nationality so as to help them get financial and other necessary assistance from the government.
Shim Jae-cheol, a prosecutor working with the Ministry of Justice, put forth that the government should either ease regulations on naturalization to help them acquire nationality here or allow them to be treated as refugees.
Lee Gwang-soo, a lawyer, said that the will of the government counts to improve the human rights condition, claiming that North Korean residents should be eligible to become South Koreans once they arrive here.
Rep. Hwang urged the government to work on a supportive legal and institutional system to protect the children of North Korean refugees.
The seminar was arranged by the Human Rights Forum led by Hwang. Since its establishment in 1998, the forum has addressed human rights conditions of North Korean refugees by holding seminars and launching campaigns.