President Lee: "Bukhyangmin, an Asset for a Shared South-North Future"... "Bukhyangmin" Now Official Designation

Jeong Dong-young: "Not 'Defector,' but 'Bukhyangmin'... Names Reflect Identity"

The 3rd Day of North Korean Defectors Commemorated

On the occasion of the 3rd Day of North Korean Defectors, the government has officially adopted the term "Bukhyangmin" instead of "defector," emphasizing a message of inclusion and social integration. President Lee Jaemyung described Bukhyangmin as "a valuable asset preparing for a future where the South and North will one day live together." Jeong Dong-young, Minister of Unification, reiterated the significance of this official terminology change, stating, "The term 'defector' carries connotations of discrimination and exclusion."

At the 3rd Day of North Korean Defectors Commemoration Ceremony held on the 14th at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, attendees including Jeong Dong-young, Minister of Unification, are flying paper airplanes sent to the North. Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee, in a congratulatory message delivered by Im Woongsun, the Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office, at the ceremony for the 3rd Day of North Korean Defectors held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on July 14, stated, "The government will take greater care to ensure that you, proud citizens of the Republic of Korea, do not bear the weight of life alone."

He added, "I promise that the central government, local governments, and the private sector will join forces to create an environment where you can fully realize your potential. I can only imagine how much thought and courage it has taken to leave behind beloved family members and your hometown to choose a new life."

President Lee also remarked, "We will steadfastly pursue lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and the path to mutual prosperity for both the South and North. We will do our utmost to open a future of coexistence and cooperation beyond conflict and confrontation."

Minister Jeong, in his address, reiterated that the government has adopted the official term "Bukhyangmin" instead of "defector" starting this year.

He explained, "In the past two years, what was known as the 1st and 2nd Day of Bukhyangmin was referred to as 'Defectors' Day,' but this year, for the first time, we are commemorating this day under the name 'Bukhyangmin.' The word 'defector' conceals discrimination and exclusion within it. Just hearing the word 'defector' evokes memories of a painful past."

He continued, "The term 'Bukhyangmin' was proposed three years ago by priests from the Catholic Committee for National Reconciliation, who led a campaign to change the terminology in order to respect human dignity and warmly embrace and integrate those who have roots in the North."

Minister Jeong also noted, "Everyone has a hometown. There are 34,600 Bukhyangmin who live diligently while longing for their hometowns," mentioning several individuals who have successfully settled in South Korea.

The four Bukhyangmin highlighted as model cases of settlement include: Cho Kyung-ok, who obtained a social worker certificate after her defection and now works as a public official at the Waterworks Department in Chuncheon; Lee Hyorim, who, after graduating from Hanawon (the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees), studied at an alternative school and later entered a large corporation; Park Geumseong, born to a defector mother and Chinese father, who came to South Korea with his mother and is currently studying biopharmaceutical sciences at Dong-eui University; and Kim Seonghui, who founded the North Korean traditional liquor company Hanadoga.

Meanwhile, the "Day of North Korean Defectors (Bukhyangmin)" was established in 2024 as a national commemoration, marking the date of the enforcement of the "Act on Protection and Settlement Support for North Korean Defectors." Around 1,000 people, including Bukhyangmin and settlement support staff, attended the event.

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