Unification ministry adopts new English term for North Korean defectors
The Ministry of Unification said it will use “North Korean-born citizens” as the standard English expression for people from North Korea who now live in the South. The ministry recently circulated guidance on the new term, explaining that it was chosen to better reflect both their birthplace and their legal status as citizens protected under South Korea’s Constitution. Previously, several English terms have been used to describe them, including “defectors,” “refugees” and “escapees.” Officials said those expressions tend to focus on the act of fleeing North Korea rather than the individual’s identity. The new phrase, they said, reflects both their birthplace in North Korea and their status as citizens under South Korean law. The ministry added that the term also reflects the constitutional principle that people from North Korea are recognized as South Korean citizens, even if they are currently residing in a third country. The guidance comes as the government promotes a new Korean term referring to people whose hometown lies in the North, rather than the commonly used
