Response Strategies Through Case Analysis and Reasons for Re-Entry of North Korean Defectors

Abstract

Purpose: As of December 2021, there are 33,819 North Korean defectors who have entered the Republic of Korea. To support their stable settlement, the public and private sectors are implementing a settlement support policy. However, due to discrimination in South Korean society and longing for family, there is a problem of re-entry to North Korea after leaving South Korea. After analyzing the causes of re-entry into North Korea, the purpose of this study is to provide policy suggestions to block re-entry into North Korea, such as improving the resettlement support system for North Korean refugees and Strengthening the pro-tection officer system.
 Method: The concept of North Korean defectors and re-entry is defined, the current status of North Ko-rean defectors entering the country and re-entry is identified, and the causes and problems of re-entry are analyzed through case studies of re-entry.
 Results: In the case of North Korean defectors who have entered South Korea, despite government poli-cy support, they are experiencing difficulties in adapting due to discrimination and neglect by South Kore-ans, difficulties in finding a job, and longing for their families in North Korea. Some of them were found to be re-entering North Korea to meet their families in North Korea.
 Conclusion: Problems were derived by analyzing the causes and cases of re-entry of some North Korean defectors. Based on these problems, I would like to suggest policy implications such as improving the edu-cation system for North Korean defectors and a resettlement support system that fits the reality in order to block re-entry.