Press Reference (November 15)
North Korean refugees reached 20,000
The number of North Koreans who have defected to South Korea passed 20,000 last week.
l Standing at 1,000 in 1999, the total number of North Korean refugees in South Korea exceeded 20,000 in just 3 years after it reached 10,000 in 2007.
l On an annual basis, 300 North Koreans fled to South Korea in 2000, 1,000 in 2002 and 2,297 in 2009. The number increased 10 times during the last decade.
The Government has made various efforts to help North Korean refugees settle in South Korea.
l A foundation to support North Korean refugees was set up two months ago in order to boost the private sector s capability in assisting North Korean refugees.
* The North Korean Refugees Foundcation is scheduled to hold a launching ceremony on November 22.
l Recognizing that giving a job is the best way to help them stand on their feet, we improved systems so that defectors could land a job as soon as possible including:
- Providing more subsidies for North Korean job seekers
- Allowing continued medical benefits for job holders
- Assisting defectors to start up social and private enterprises
- Hiring more North Korean refugees in the public sector
- Enhancing employment support such as tax credits and financial benefits
l Thirty Hana Centers and 100 professional counselors across the country are helping North Korean refugees to settle in their residential areas by giving customized services to them.
l Job fairs and other programs have created 2,000 jobs for North Korean refugees providing them with financial security and raised public awareness on the issue.
Around 20,000 North Korean refugees now living in South Korea are our neighbors and we need to cooperate in supporting them.
The Government has allowed North Koreans to enter into our society on humanitarian grounds, and has worked and will continue to work hard to help them.
With the 20,000th North Korea refugee defecting to South Korea, Unification Minister is scheduled to visit Yeomyung School, an alternative school for North Korean youth on November 15. Minister Hyun will have a conversation with North Korean refugees and offer them words of encouragement.
l North Korean refugees who have already been successfully settled in our society including the first North Korean defector and students from the school will join the meeting.
Ministry of Unification
