Press Release (April 20, 2010)
Eight more Hana Centers designated
l The Ministry of Unification selected 8 more resettlement facilities (Hana Centers) with collaboration with local governments.
* The number of Hana Centers designated:
Busan(1), Ulsan(1), Gyeonggi(2), Chungbuk(1), Jeonbuk(1), Gyeongnam(1), Jeju(1)
- The newly-chosen centers would be opened on May 10 and begin providing services. The 138th Hanawon graduates would be their first recipients.
l According to an MOU plan, a total of 30 would be run this year. Based on the number of persons to be accommodated, the size of the service area and accessibility, centers would be selected additionally. Each metropolitan city and province would have more than one Hana Center.
* The total number of facilities to be operated in each region:
Seoul(4), Gyeonggi(6)
Incheon Gwangju Gwangwon Chungnam Gyeongbuk Gyeongnam(2)
Busan Daegu Daejeon Ulsan Chungbuk Jeonbuk Jeonnam Jeju(1)
l A Hana Center is a resettlement support facility for North Korean defectors leaving Hanawon where they go first after entering South Korea. The Centers help them adjust to lives in their residential areas and get a job or education so that they can stand on their feet.
- North Korean defectors at a Hana Center get an early adaptation education for 3 weeks and customized services for 1 year after that. These comprehensive services would make them easily settle in their residential areas.
Ministry of Unification
