June 28 'Day of Remembrance for Abductees'... July 14 'Day of North Korean Defectors'

Enforcement of the "Talbukmin Safety Transport Act"

Starting next year, June 28 will be designated as the Day of Remembrance for the Abductees of the 6·25 War, and July 14 will be designated as the Day of North Korean Defectors.

The Ministry of Unification announced that the "Act on the Investigation of the Truth about the Abductees of the 6·25 War and the Restoration of Honor of the Abductees" and the "North Korean Defectors Act Amendment," which designate these dates as legal memorial days to raise awareness about the damage caused by abductions during the 6·25 War and to improve perceptions of North Korean defectors, will be promulgated and enforced on the 20th.

The 10th Memorial Day for the Victims of Abduction during the Korean War held at the National 6·25 War Abductees Memorial Hall located in Imjingak, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do in June 2023. Photo by Yonhap News.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Unification plans to expand cooperation with related organizations such as the Association of Families of 6·25 War Abductees and hold various nationwide cultural events every July 14 to improve awareness of North Korean defectors.

An official from the Ministry of Unification stated, "The government will continue to prioritize 'protecting our citizens' and will do its utmost, together with our people and in cooperation with the international community, to resolve issues related to abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war."

Additionally, the amendment to the North Korean Defectors Act, which took effect on the same day, includes a legal basis allowing the Minister of Foreign Affairs to provide necessary support for the safe entry of overseas North Korean defectors. Known as the "North Korean Defectors Safe Transfer Act," it was jointly proposed by Kim Geon of the People Power Party and Hong Ki-won of the Democratic Party of Korea. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been responsible for protecting, transferring, and negotiating with relevant countries when overseas defectors wished to come to South Korea, there was no legal basis for active involvement, making it difficult to intervene effectively. The amendment resolves this issue.

Furthermore, the amendment also includes provisions to objectively assess the child-rearing conditions of North Korean defectors in order to establish systematic support policies by investigating "child-rearing situations" in the North Korean Defectors Survey.

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