Taeyoungho Discusses 'Crisis Response for Defectors'... "Measures Needed Considering Specificities"

Office of Representative Taeyoungho, Discussion on Measures Against 'Solitary Deaths of North Korean Defectors'

Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, is speaking at a discussion forum on the morning of the 23rd at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, to discuss the formation of a task force (TF) for measures against solitary deaths among North Korean defectors.
[Photo by Tae Young-ho's Office]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] As the issue of 'lonely deaths among North Korean defectors' has continued, with a woman in her 40s, known as a successful case of settling in South Korea, recently found dead in a skeletonized state, there have been suggestions to unify the government's support and management system for North Korean defectors.

On the morning of the 23rd, Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, held a forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the theme of 'Formation of a Task Force (TF) for Measures Against Lonely Deaths of North Korean Defectors and the Current Status and Challenges in Responding to Single-Person Households and Families in Crisis.' The forum was attended by North Korean defectors, heads of defector organizations, the South-North Hana Foundation, and the Ministry of Unification's Safety Support Team. Various issues arising in crisis families among North Korean defectors and possible solutions were discussed from multiple perspectives.

Those attending the discussion, including defectors, agreed that most single-person households and single-parent families are in poor conditions and facing crises, and that communication channels are needed for them. Above all, opinions were raised that measures based on the unique characteristics of North Korean defectors are necessary.

In particular, professional counselors from the South-North Hana Foundation, who assist defectors in settling, argued for the need to amend the North Korean Defectors Act so that defectors can continue to receive protection through reapplication even after their personal protection period ends. They also proposed that collaboration among community center heads, personal protection officers, and heads of defector organizations could help identify crisis families in blind spots.

Lee Geum-sook, a professional counselor at the South-North Hana Foundation, emphasized, "Recently, the settlement system for North Korean defectors has not been well established and there are many difficulties due to various conflicts and the need to work," stressing the urgent need to unify the support system for North Korean defectors. This was also mentioned by Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se during the National Assembly audit last month.

Currently, crisis management for defectors is divided among the Ministry of Unification, the Hana Foundation, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and local governments. It has been pointed out that blind spots occur during the coordination of tasks between ministries.

In fact, the crisis signs of the defector found as a 'skeletonized body' were first detected last year, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare notified the Ministry of Unification at least five times from May last year to the first half of this year. However, the Ministry of Unification took no special measures, citing that the crisis management was handled by the local government, and furthermore, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the relevant local government all failed to prevent the lonely death due to 'lack of contact.'

Lawmaker Tae Young-ho, who organized the forum, also presented various opinions on methods such as post-support for urgent expenses used on-site when a crisis family occurs, simplification of administrative documents for small-scale support, and directions for amending the North Korean Defectors Act.

Lawmaker Tae said, "I hope that discussions on the settlement issues of North Korean defectors will continue through this forum," adding, "Support systems must be improved before serious problems arise in the defector community."

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