□ Proposed by Won Hye-young of the Democratic Party of Korea (a
member of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee) on September
2, 2016
The proposition of the partial revision of the North Korean Refugees
Protection And Settlement Support Act was passed during the general
meeting of the National Assembly on February 20, 2018. The Cabinet
meeting passed the revision bill on March 6, 2018, which will be
proclaimed and entered into force next week.
□ The revised law will allow alternative schools for North Korean
defectors to use shared properties owned by local government agencies
as their own school facilities in the future.
o The Unification Ministry, Education Ministry, and Korea Hana
Foundation have been providing financial assistance for 9 alternative
schools for North Korean defectors. However, the properties are leased
by private parties, burdening the schools with the lease payments and
responsibilities to improve the educational facilities.
※ △ 4 approved alternative schools (Hangyeore Middle and High
School, Yeomyung School, Heavenly Dream School, Nehemiah Korea Daum
School) △ 5 non-approved alternative schools (Nehemiah Korea Daum
School, Banseok School, Wooridul School, The Great Vision School,
Haesol School)
o As this proposal for the revision was passed, the 4 approved
alternative schools that have been providing education for North
Korean defectors can now use the sites of closed public schools to
build new facilities after consulting with local government agencies.
Non-approved alternative schools may receive the benefits in the
future when they are approved according to the revision of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
□ There is a total of 3,102 young North Korean defectors living in
South Korea, of which 82% of them (2,538 students) currently attend
general elementary, middle, and high schools, and 18% (564 students)
attend alternative schools.
o The Unification Ministry will keep providing assistance for young
North Korean defectors to live in a better environment and look
forward to reunification.