North Korean Family Research Articles

가족관계 단절 문제에 대한 부모되찾기 설화의 문학치료적 역할

This study focuses on ‘the Problem of Family Relationship Breakdown’ of Jangmadang Generation North Korean refugees. I designed what kind of psychotherapeutic effect Korean Folktale could have. Because the Jangmadang Generation chose to defect from North Korea to overcome social and personal limitations, they are experiencing more complex conflicts regarding their relationship with their North Korean family. Therefore, I proposed a literary therapy plan to them to think about ‘how do I understand my parents’ life, and what kind of life do I want to live now?’ In this literature therapy, stories of Recovering Parents can be applied. These works contain the epic structure of ‘support after growth’ and special Motifs that enable emotional connection with parents. North Korean refugees can imagine ways to relieve the pain of broken family relationships through emotional connection without giving up the advantages gained through parental pushing away. Further more, this study presented a case of literary therapy using the folktales 〈Live in My Fortune〉 and 〈The Prayer of Past Life Parents〉. North Korean refugees deeply understood the two folktales and reinterpreted the meaning of the works by connecting them to their own lives. In this case, it was confirmed that the two folktales played a role in representing their lives and imagining a positive future.

Applying target congruence theory to victimization risk of students from multicultural backgrounds: A comparison of South Korean, North Korean, and other multicultural family adolescents

Abstract The objective of this study was to apply Target Congruence Theory (TCT) to explore the relationship between ethnicity and victimization in the context of South Korea. Specifically, this study used more than 235,000 students from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) to explore the victimization experiences of multicultural children through the lenses of target vulnerability, target gratifiablity, and target antagonism. Results from multivariate modeling show that indicators of target congruence and deviant lifestyles were associated with the risk of violent victimization. Consistent with propositions of TCT, students from North Korean families were over eleven times more likely to report that they had experienced serious victimization, even after controlling for opportunity-related variables than students from South Korean families. Similarly, “other” multicultural family adolescents were over five times more likely to report a violent victimization experience than South Korean family adolescents. Policy implications are discussed.

Suicide Attempts and Contributing Factors among South and North Korean-Family Youth Using the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey.

Objectives:There is an increasing number of North Korean adolescents in South Korea. These adolescents need clinical attention as they experience a high risk of suicidal behavior because of the childhood adversity and acculturative challenges that they face before and after arriving in South Korea. This study assessed the risk of suicide attempts among North Korean adolescents compared to South Korean adolescents, and investigated the contributing factors for each group.Methods:We used data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) spanning 2011 to 2018, in which 404 adolescents had a father and/or mother who was a North Korean native. Data on 1,212 propensity-matched South Korean adolescents were extracted from the 2011 to 2018 KYRBS. Prevalence was calculated and compared by group. Separate odds ratios were calculated by group.Results:The North Korean group had a significantly higher suicide attempt rate [unadjusted odds ratio (OR)=8.27; adjusted OR=8.45]. Multivariate analysis indicated that having a low or high socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with suicide attempts in North Korean adolescents, while being female, having a high socioeconomic status, alcohol use, and depressive symptoms were significantly related to suicide attempts in South Korean adolescents.Conclusion:The results found similarities and differences in the factors associated with the likelihood of suicide attempts in the two groups. From these results, different approaches are needed when planning interventions for each group.

통일 후 남북한 친족법의 통합방안

통일 후 남북한 친족법의 통합방안

At the world’s toughest border: South Koreans face prison for keeping in touch with their North Korean family

At the world’s toughest border: South Koreans face prison for keeping in touch with their North Korean family

Health risk behaviors and psychological problems among South Korean, North Korean, and other multicultural family adolescents (2011–2016)

This study was aimed to investigate the health risk behaviors and psychological problems among North Korean, other multicultural, and South Korean family adolescents. The data were collected from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior web-based survey (2011–2016) data set. A total of 17,195 adolescents (mean age 14.65 ± 0.01 years) were analyzed to compare health risk behaviors and psychological problems among the three groups. Concerning risk behaviors, multicultural family adolescents showed a higher rate of alcohol use, smoking, drug use and sexual relations compared to South Korean family adolescents. Moreover, North Korean family adolescents were more likely to experience those risk behaviors than other multicultural family adolescents. Concerning psychological problems, multicultural family youth displayed more depressed mood, and more suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts when compared with South Korean family youth. Among multicultural families, North Korean family adolescents were more depressed and showed higher suicidality. School-based education and preventive interventions are necessary to manage risk behaviors and psychological difficulties of adolescents in North Korean and other multicultural families.

Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among North Korean Defectors.

Objective Despite the increasing number of North Korean defectors, research on their mental health conditions and suicidal thoughts and behaviors has not been conducted systematically. We examined the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in North Korean defectors. Methods This study focused on 300 North Korean defectors recruited from regional resettlement centers in South Korea. In-person interviews based on the North Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview were conducted to diagnose mental disorders and assess suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between suicidal thoughts and behaviors and socio-demographic variables, and DSM-IV mental disorders. Results Lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were 28.3, 13.3, and 17.3%, respectively. Female sex (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0–3.9), presence of health problems in the past year (2.6, 95% CI: 1.4–4.6), and absence of both South Korean acquaintances (1.9, 95% CI: 1.0–3.4) and North Korean family (1.7, 95% CI: 1.0–2.9) were associated with higher odds of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, after adjusting for participant age, sex, and education. Presence of a mental disorder was associated with a significantly increased odd of suicide ideation, plan, and attempt. Of all mental disorder categories, agoraphobia had the strongest association with suicidal ideation (6.5, 95% CI: 2.0–21.6), plans (7.7, 95% CI: 2.5–23.2) and attempts (12.0, 95% CI: 3.5–40.8). Conclusion Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among North Korean defectors are higher than the general population in South Korea, especially show high rates in transit countries. Further study should focus on the changes in suicidal thoughts and behaviors according to the settlement process and early prevention.

Development and Evaluation of the Educational Program for South Korean Middle School Students in Preparation for Reunification on North Korean Family Living Culture

본 연구는 통일 한국에 대비하여 통일 후 대한민국의 주축으로 성장할 청소년들을 대상으로 북한의 가정생활문화에 대한 이해를 돕기 위한 교육 프로그램을 개발하는 것을 목적으로 하였다. 이를 위하여 현행 교육과정에서 이루어지는 통일교육과 가정생활문화에 해당하는 선행연구를 고찰하고 이를 근거로 교육 내용을 선정하였다. 교육은 2015년 12월 사이에 서울시내 남녀공학 중학교 1학년 두 개 학급을 대상으로 시행되었다. 교육 내용은 가정교과의 세부 내용학을 중심으로 실생활과 밀접한 식생활, 의생활, 주생활, 가족생활 및 대인관계, 소비생활 및 여가 등의 주제로 12차시 분량으로 준비되었다. 사전-사후 평가에서 소비생활, 여가생활, 아동·가족생활, 식생활, 의생활, 주생활의 모든 분야에서 유의한 효과가 있었다. 또한 학생들의 구술 응답에서도 프로그램의 내용이 실생활에 도움이 될 것이라 하였으며 학기 중에도 이와 같은 교육프로그램이 개설될 것을 희망하였다. 이 프로그램은 남한의 청소년들에게 북한의 가정생활문화의 이해를 도움으로써 앞으로 다가올 미래의 통일한국을 대비 하도록 하는 통일교육 프로그램의 역할을 할 것으로 기대된다.This study aimed at developing an educational program for South Korean adolescents on North Korean family living culture so that the students become familiar with the values and everyday lifestyles of North Korea. Understanding of North Korean culture is considered important as a foundation for social integration in prospect of future reunification. The contents of the program were developed based on the analysis of North Korean defectors’ interviews and review of the literature and media reports on North Korean family culture. The program consists of 12 units of 40-minute sessions with the following topics: economy and consumption, leisure activities, family relationships, dating and spouse choices, fashion changes, clothing acquisition and care, food choices and local diets, dietary problems, housing, and neighborhood. The program was implemented between December 21 and 30, 2015 in a middle school located in Seoul. This program is expected to be useful in preparing the students as future leaders to create harmonious family living culture in the reunified Korea.

Development and Evaluation of Family Life Culture Education Program in Preparation for the Reunification of Korea aimed at Pre-Service Home Economics Teachers

본 연구는 예비 가정과교사들의 남북한 간 문화적 차이에 대한 이해도와 수용을 고양시킴으로써 중등학교의 학생들을 대상으로 북한의 가정생활문화에 대한 수업을 할 수 있도록 준비시키는 것을 목적으로 하였다. 문헌고찰을 통하여 북한의 가정생활문화의 전반적 측면들을 반영하도록 내용을 개발하였다. 이 프로그램은 교사양성기관의 가정교육과 학부학생들 35명을 대상으로 실시되었다. 프로그램은 15차시의 150분짜리 수업으로 구성되었다. 첫 3회의 수업은 가정생활문화와 다문화주의를 정의하고, 남북간의 관계에 대한 역사적 고찰을 포함하는 도입 수업으로 이루어졌다. 이후의 9차시 동안에는 북한의 가정생활문화를 5개의 영역(소비 및 여가생활, 가족생활 및 양육, 식생활, 주생활, 의생활)으로 나누어 다루었다. 마지막 2차시 동안에는 예비교사들이 설계한 교수-학습과정안을 가지고 수업실연을 하는 시간을 가졌다. 프로그램의 평가를 위하여 사전-사후 검사가 실시되었으며, 전반적인 교수 효능감과 문화적 차이에 대한 이해도의 변화를 대응표본 t-검증으로 검증하였다. 사전-사후 검사의 결과에 따르면, 이 프로그램은 예비교사들의 남북한 가정생활문화에 대한 이해와 수용을 고양하는 데 효과적인 것으로 평가되었다.This program aimed at preparing the pre-service teachers to teach about North Korean family life culture to secondary school students, by promoting the understanding and acceptance of cultural differences between the two Koreas. Based on the literature review, the educational contents were developed to reflect general aspects of North Korean family life. The program was implemented with 35 undergraduate students in a home economics teacher education program. The program consists of 15 units of 150-minute instructional sessions. The first three introductory sessions dealt with the definitions of family life culture and multiculturalism, as well as a historical review of South-North relationship. The following nine sessions were devoted to North Korean family life culture in five different domains: consumption and leisure, family and child-caring, food and dietary life, housing and neighborhood life, and clothing/fashion. During the final two weeks, pre-service teachers conducted mock-teaching. For evaluation, pre- and post-session scores on general teaching efficacy and understanding of cultural differences were compared using paired t-tests. The pre-/post-test results confirmed that the program was successful in promoting the understanding and acceptance of cultural differences between two Koreas of pre-service teachers.

The Effect of DMZ Value Attributes on Eco-Tourism Attributes, Tourism Satisfaction, and Word of Mouth Intention -Focused on Imjingak Nation Tourism Attraction

Objectives: To make a study on an effect that De-militarized Zone (DMZ) value attribute has on eco-tourism attribute, tourism satisfaction and word-of-mouth intention. It is intended to examine tourism satisfaction for regional economy revitalization, symbolism as world peace park and eco-tourism choice attribute by DMZ value attribute based on a study of entire DMZ. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Based on the results of surveying tourists around Imjingak Resort, a regression analysis was carried out. In addition, its results were presented. The survey was carried out for about 2 weeks from 1 October 2015. And among 350 questionnaires, 316 questionnaires were used for analysis except 34 samples that lost goodness of fit as sample because of insincere response. A frequency analysis was made in order to grasp the characteristics of study participants. In addition, a factor analysis was made by utilizing Cronbach’s a coefficient in order to test reliability and validity. Before hypothesis test, a correlation analysis was made, and then a regression analysis was made, and its resultant values were presented. Findings: According to the results of study, it was shown that resource factor and historical factor had a significant effect on eco-tourism choice attribute. In addition, it was shown that, among eco-tourism choice attributes, only natural factor had an effect on tourism satisfaction, and natural factor and eco-exploration factor had an effect on word-of-mouth intention. Besides, it was shown that source factor and historical factor of DMZ value attribute had an effect on tourism satisfaction, and resource factor had an effect on word-of-mouth intention as well. As the results of study were checked, resource factor such as DMZ’s natural landscape and basin system was not related to time with colleague and family members or sense of belonging to organization. In addition, this was based on historical grief, territorial division because of characteristics of DMZ tour. Therefore, it was possible to infer that the tour was not the one where tourists focused on leisure only. And it was possible to find that compassion were created by inviting other people because a desire for word of mouth was formed in the process of observing and experiencing animals and plants in person through having an effect on word-of-mouth intention. This can regarded as phenomenon occurring when ordinary tourists are satisfied. Improvements/Applications: Recently, through events of reunions between South and North Korean family members, a preserved historic battlefield was accepted. Therefore, there was a large number of tourists and high satisfaction. And it was not possible to present strong theoretical basis for DMZ tour as the world’s last divided country. However, in the actual condition where the internationalization of DMZ tour is insufficient, it can be expected to provide very valuable implications also in improvement measures and activation measures in the future.

The Status and The Progress of The Public Person in North Korean Family Law

The Status and The Progress of The Public Person in North Korean Family Law

북한가정, 다문화가정과 한국가정 청소년의 건강행태

Background: This study investigated the health behaviors of North Korean, multicultural, and Korean family adolescents in Korea.Methods: The study subjects were from the Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey (2011-2013) dataset. We identified 1,954 multicultural family adolescents and twice as many Korean family adolescents. Frequency analysis was used to assess nativity and nationality of the parents, and the chi-square test was used to compare the general characteristics and health behavior of the multi-cultural and Korean families. Conditional multiple logistic regression was used to compare health behavior between multicultural and Korean families.Results: Of the 5,862 multicultural and Korean family adolescents, current smoking in North Korean family adolescents was higher than Korean family adolescents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-3.35) after adjusting for sex, school year, perceived school record, family structure, father’s education, mother’s education, perceived economic status, place of residence, and survey year. A high drinking rate was significantly greater in North Korean family adolescents compared to Korean family adolescents (aOR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.89-4.57). Odds ratios for sufficient physical activity of vigorous intensity (aOR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.31-2.54) were significantly higher in North Korean family adolescents than in Korean family adolescents. Fast food intake (aOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.34-2.86) was significantly higher in North Korean family adolescents compared to Korean family adolescents.Conclusion: There were differences in health behavior between North Korean, multicultural, and Korean family adolescents. Further studies are needed to investigate the factors associated with these differences.Keywords: Health behavior; Cultural diversity; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Stigma of mental illnesses as perceived by north korean defectors living in South Korea.

ObjectiveThis study aims to provide the information of the stigmas of mental illness such as psychosis, alcoholism, attempt suicide, and depression among North Korean defectors.MethodsWe examined stigma for the mental illnesses of 639 North Korean defectors aged 19 to 65 years who live in the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees. The stigmas of mental illnesses were assessed using the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale We directly compared the stigma level between North Korean defectors and the general population of South Korea.ResultsNorth Korean defectors had higher perceived stigmas of psychosis and alcoholism and lower perceived stigmas of depression than South Koreans. Perceived stigma associated with attempted suicide was similar for North Korean defectors and South Koreans. Only marital status in sociodemographic variables had associations with higher perceived stigma of psychosis, alcoholism, and depression in the North Korean defectors. North Korean defectors, who spent more than one year in transit country, had associations with lower perceived stigma of psychosis and alcoholism. North Korean defectors, who had the experience of compulsory repatriation to North Korea or North Korean family in South Korea, had an association with higher perceived stigma of depression.ConclusionNorth Korean defectors had higher perceived stigmas of psychosis and alcoholism and lower perceived stigmas of depression than South Koreans. Further studies are needed to document serial changes in stigmas for mental illnesses associated with the receipt of education at the Settlement Support Center for North Korean defectors.

The Korean Peace Fund

IntroductionIt has been said that everything is for sale. What about peace? Can peace and reunification between North and South Korea be purchased? Can war be avoided by simply paying for peace? This may not be as far-fetched as it might seem. Indeed, this was a U.S. government topic of discussion during the Clinton administration.1 If war is fought over money, and power and control over the people, land, and resources that produce it, why cannot we pay in advance to prevent it? I think we can, and I will present a model to accomplish this task, recommend who should be paid how much, and suggest where this money might come from.To convince the North Korean leadership to disband the army and to proceed with reunification, this model prioritizes three fundamental motivating incentives: (1) private wealth, (2) personal safety and freedom, and (3) honor and prestige. In addition to this top-down approach, bottom-up incentives are provided to the military and to the general population, recognizing the motivating role of women and children and the organic desire for family security. And perhaps most importantly, this model allows the North Korean leadership to save face and honorably opt out of their current predicament with dignity.2The Korean Peace Fund is explicitly designed to create the personal, economic, and political motivation for peaceful reunification. It is based on compelling personal and economic incentives, and on an empathetic appreciation of the North Korean political leadership and the average North Korean family. I propose nothing less than paying for the allegiance of 24 million people by offering sums equal to years of work to an average North Korean citizen and publicly honoring the North Korean leadership (for their heroic wisdom in stepping down) and buying them off with tangible in-the-pocket private wealth and international assurances of their personal safety and freedom to live and travel wherever they wish. The total price of peace is affordable, and a bargain of inestimable value when one considers that the possible alternative is war.This model provides enormous incentives to all North Koreans to join in the relative prosperity of the rest of the world. Popular support improves the likelihood of reaching a tipping point for Korean unification. Tipping points are of sensitivity when thresholds are reached and small things can have enormous consequences. Stoessinger calls them moments of truth when leaders cross thresholds into war (or peace).3 They can arise unexpectedly and alter the course of history.An Incentive Model for PeaceThe potential efficacy of this model is enhanced by cultural diffusion and the word-of-mouth rumor currently spreading across North Korean social networks that the outside world is a better place to live. A porous border with China and increased market activity has increased the spread of outside information and South Korean cultural products.4 Analyzing data from two large defector populations, Haggard and Noland assert, There is evidence of increasing willingness to defy the government through everyday forms of resistance, such as listening to foreign media.5 Information flows are subtly changing perspectives and aspirations throughout North Korea. As personal desperation and the aspirations of a new generation synergize with knowledge of the outside world, more people will realize they are trapped inside a self-limiting political-economic and cultural system and may seek alternatives. With greater access to outside information, the power elite is probably acutely aware of this relative deficiency.This model provides especially strong incentives for the power elite to reassess its options. In every polity, there are internal divisions at the highest levels of power and authority. Disagreements undoubtedly exist among elite power brokers in North Korea as crosscurrent objectives of cabinet, party, and military peer institutions clash. …

Migration, Remittances, and the Family

Remittances by migrants along with migration itself are elements in a migrant familys intertemporal contractual arrangement. The reasons why the migrant and his family voluntarily enter into a mutually beneficial contractual arrangement with each other rather than with a 3rd party--are discussed and the conditions under which the contractual arrangement is self-enforcing are identified. Both parties can usually benefit from a number of Pareto-efficient mutual contractual arrangements. This gives rise to an indeterminacy problem solved through a bargaining process between the parties who consequently converge to a contractual arrangement implying a specific flow of migrant-to-family remittances. The chosen contractual arrangement reflects the relative bargaining powers of the parties and variables impinging upon these powers thus bear upon remittances. In the light of these arguments tests are conducted on observed remittance behavior across individual migrants in Botswana. (authors)

Family Reform in Socialist States: The Hidden Agenda

Despite the Communist Manifesto's call for the 'abolition' of the bourgeois family, and the association, in the eyes of its enemies, of communism with anti-family policies, the family is regarded by existing socialist states as an institution of vital importance.2 It is not only constitutionally entitled to the support and protection of the state, but it has also been an important site of state intervention. This has been the case both in the more developed industrial societies of the USSR and Eastern Europe and in the poorer states of the socialist third world such as Cuba, South Yemen, Vietnam, China and Mozambique. All these countries are notable for the fact that they have passed legislation aimed at redefining family relations, especially those between men and women, and parents and children. Their constitutions, embodying the policies of the ruling party, grant a special status to the family, designating it a 'basic cell of society', and charging it with a number of specified social responsibilities. At the same time, since most socialist governments have inherited laws which embodied substantial discrimination against women, steps are quickly taken to rectify this, first by granting formal legal equality between the sexes in their constitutions and then by enshrining this principle within newly drafted Family Codes. As can be seen by comparing the family laws of, say, China (1950 and 1980), North Korea (the DPRK) (1946), South Yemen (1974) and Cuba (1975), these laws have a number of characteristics in common; while they obviously differ in points of detail to the extent that they reflect characteristics of the countries in which they are formulated, they are similar in their provision of formal legal equality between the sexes and in the kind of family they promote.3 They also share a common objective in seeking to erode ideas and practices which are seen as associated with the previous social order, ^rhether this is characterized as feudal, colonial or capitalist. For example, the North Korean family law of 1946 explicitly outlaws a form of prostitution known as the 'Kisaeng-girl keeping system', while South Yemen's 1975 law substantially reduced the bride price (Mahr) in order to end a