23.5% of North Korean Defectors Receive Psychiatric Treatment... Complaining of Symptoms Such as Depression and Panic Disorder

Increased 2.3 Times in 9 Years
Children Under 10 Also Visiting Psychiatry

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] It has been revealed that one out of every four North Korean defectors receiving medical benefits has undergone psychiatric treatment.

According to the 'Mental Illness Treatment Status of North Korean Defectors' received on the 12th by People Power Party lawmaker Ji Seong-ho, a defector himself, from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, among the 15,748 North Korean defectors receiving medical benefits in 2019, 23.5% (3,696 people) received psychiatric treatment.

Compared to the same year, where 6,800 people, accounting for 4.6% of the total 1.48 million medical benefit recipients, received psychiatric treatment, the rate of psychiatric treatment among North Korean defectors is considerably high.

The number of North Korean defectors receiving psychiatric treatment increased 2.3 times over nine years. In 2010, 1,625 defectors receiving medical benefits underwent psychiatric treatment.

The symptoms most commonly reported by defectors visiting psychiatric clinics were identified as depression, panic disorder, and insomnia. Children aged 0 to 9 also visited psychiatric clinics due to issues such as delayed language development and psychological development.

Lawmaker Ji said, "North Korean defectors have experienced significant stress under the North Korean regime and during the defection process, and they face difficulties due to social and cultural differences during resettlement." He added, "There is a need to support their psychological stability and social adaptation through the establishment of trauma centers for North Korean defectors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.