"Beyond Settlement to Coexistence"... Gyeonggi Province Expands Customized Support for North Korean Defectors

Gyeonggi Province to Strengthen Customized Support by Life Stage
32 Billion KRW Invested in Settlement Support for North Korean Defectors
15 Tailored Projects to Be Implemented

Gyeonggi Province has allocated a total budget of 3,251,900,000 KRW to help North Korean defectors settle stably in the local community, and will actively implement customized support programs tailored to different life stages.

Exterior view of Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

On May 26, the province announced plans to carry out 15 detailed projects, aiming to help North Korean defectors not only survive but also form healthy families, achieve economic independence, and communicate and harmonize with South Korean society so that they can put down stable roots.

First, to support the formation of healthy families, one-on-one parenting coaching will be provided to North Korean defector parents and caregivers, while children will be offered home-visit education and learning mentoring programs. In addition, college student clubs for North Korean defectors will provide information about college admissions and career mentoring, among other support.

To further promote stable settlement, the province will support dental treatment, additional medical examinations and treatments linked to national health checkups, and other services to help North Korean defectors systematically manage their health.

Support for economic independence will also be strengthened. Residents preparing for employment will receive job training subsidies, and those wishing to start a business will be offered professional consulting. The province also plans to encourage continued employment through internship programs and family camps for long-term employees.

Programs to promote communication between South and North Korean residents are also noteworthy. These include family matching projects between South and North Korean families, the "Healing Culture Walk" program that supports attendance at concerts and performances, and local communication projects conducted in 14 cities and counties, all aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and breaking down prejudice.

In addition, the integrated safety support system to prevent crisis situations will be reinforced. The province will strengthen its collaboration system centered on the Hana Center, working with the National Police Agency and local governments, and will provide one-on-one customized counseling through the Care Counseling Center.

Lee Hyungeun, Director of Peace-Based Policy at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We have prepared multifaceted support measures so that North Korean defectors can not only settle but also achieve independence and coexist as members of the local community," and added, "We will continue to develop effective policies that reflect voices from the field."

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