student corner Embracing North Korean defectors
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By Hannah Byun
North Korean defectors have become a global issue whether their lives in South Korea are stable or not. Whereas many countries in the world are interested in and concerned about the defectors and their lives, South Koreans, in fact, are indifferent or even biased toward them.
According to the Korea Hana Foundation’s statistics about the living conditions of North Korean defectors in the South, 67.6 percent of them expressed their dissatisfaction with life here in 2014, and 41.9 percent of them felt discomfort due to prejudice and discrimination remaining in South Korea in many uncountable ways.
In South Korean society, many North Korean defectors are still within and without; although they live in the South after fleeing from the North, they are still isolated and treated as strangers in their new home.
Furthermore, South Koreans should be concerned about this disparate situation; they should make the effort to respect the defectors’ distinctive culture and guarantee lifelong education for them. Awareness of the defectors’ insecure lives not only retains the spirit of Koreans but also guides the Korean Peninsula to peaceful unification in the years to come.
I am interested in the lives of the North Korean defectors, and one of my major interests is the education of their children. The Korea Hana Foundation’s statistics show that 67.8 percent of teenage defectors are satisfied with their education here.
Considering this level, I developed a profound interest in and passion for the education of North Korean defectors here.
When I participated in a conference on the education of North Korean defectors, I learned that the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees, better known as Hanawon, helps defectors with educational adjustment and volunteer programs to tutor their children.
I participated in one of the volunteer programs and met one girl whose inquiring mind astonished me. It has been almost three years since I started tutoring her, and she is always diligent and responsible.
Through this valuable experience, I realized that lifelong education is definitely necessary for defectors, especially those who come here at a younger age. Many teen defectors are passionate to learn and adapt to South Korean culture. And the government and many organizations support them educationally, helping to fulfill their eagerness to learn.
Moreover, the right to lifelong education is defined by the Constitution of South Korea. Chapter 2 Article 31 of the Constitution stipulates that “all citizens shall have an equal right to receive an education corresponding to their abilities, and the state shall promote lifelong learning.”
Moreover, education for the defectors not only ameliorates South Korean society but also harmonizes the Korean Peninsula by joining two different cultures.
Although many North Korean defectors still live within and without society due to the two cacophonic cultures, lifelong education for the defectors will result in peace and prosperity on the peninsula.
The two Koreas have very different cultures due to their contrastive political systems. North Korea is led by the Kim dynasty whereas South Korea promotes a democratic system. Since North Korean defectors are used to dictatorship which deprives people of their freedom, defectors have trouble compromising their ideas with South Koreans.
Furthermore, South Koreans also have a hard time understanding North Korean culture because they have not been exposed to it. Different customs separate the countries; thus, both Koreans should accept and respect their different traditions.
The church I attend welcomes North Korean defectors. Indeed, the minister also came from North Korea. Beginning a few years ago, I started teaching at the Sunday school of the church; most children are used to North Korean culture due to the influence of their parents.
At first, I certainly felt cultural differences. Their tough reactions and behaviors often perplexed me, so I spent much time finding ways to narrow the differences. At last, when I accepted their customs, I found more affinity than incompatibility. Thus, accepting and respecting their traditions is the only way to ease conflicts arising from cultural differences and for all of us to better understand each other.
If South Koreans are more concerned about North Korean defectors’ lives and culture, we can better embrace them and help them become integrated members of our society. Caring for the defectors’ traditions is certainly a first step toward Korean unification.
Hannah Byun is a junior at Centennial Christian School in South Korea. She is interested in many global issues such as the environment, economics, public affairs and gender equality. She is also awakened by issues about North Korean defectors.