Over 50 North Korean Defectors Facing ‘Extreme Hardship’ for a Year…Hong Giwon Calls for Substantial Support Measures

It has been revealed that more than 50 North Korean defectors (bukhyangmin) have been facing livelihood crises for over a year. In addition, since 2023, the proportion of deceased North Korean defectors without family who were categorized as members of high-risk groups has continued to increase. This has prompted calls for the government to develop more effective support measures to help North Korean defectors settle stably in South Korea.

According to the office of Hong Giwon, a member of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, as of the first half of this year, about 50 people had been included in the Ministry of Unification's 'high-risk groups' list for over a year.

Since 2022, the Ministry of Unification has been designating and managing North Korean defectors as 'high-risk groups' if they meet at least 10 out of 47 risk indicators outlined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, such as self-harm or suicide attempts, electricity, water, or gas cutoff, and overdue utility or communication bills, on a bimonthly basis. Although approximately 7,200 people are under the ministry’s management overall, more than 50 of them have remained in a 'high-risk group' status for over a year, struggling to maintain even the minimal necessities for living.

Some North Korean defectors, facing livelihood crises without family or relatives, have even died alone. From 2022, when the government began designating and managing high-risk groups, through last year, there were a total of 92 such deceased North Korean defectors without family. Of these, 61—amounting to 66%—were identified as members of high-risk groups. The percentage has also increased steadily from 53% in 2023, reaching as high as 71% last year. The number of North Korean defectors who died by suicide also continues to remain in the range of 10 to 20 people annually.

Hong Giwon, a member of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea

Given the existence of North Korean defectors who have been forced into long-term livelihood crises, critics argue that the government must move beyond perfunctory support measures and establish more effective countermeasures. Hong stated, "The Ministry of Unification must take seriously the fact that North Korean defectors continue to take their own lives in South Korea, a country they came to seeking hope," and added, "It is necessary to build a substantial support system rather than simply relying on short-term or material assistance."

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