Kim Younghee Appointed Korea Hana Foundation Chair, First North Korean Defector to Hold Post

Kim Younghee, 61, a former senior researcher at the Korea Development Bank and a North Korean defector, was appointed chairperson of the Korea Hana Foundation (North Korean Refugees Foundation) on Oct. 12.

Unification Minister Chung Dongyoung presents an appointment letter to Kim Younghee, the newly appointed chairperson of the Korea Hana Foundation (North Korean Refugees Foundation), at Government Complex Seoul on the 12th. Ministry of Unification.

The Ministry of Unification announced the appointment in a press release that day. Under the relevant law, the foundation’s chairperson is appointed by the Minister of Unification following a recommendation by the board of directors.

Born in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, Kim is the first chairperson of the foundation to have come from the North Korean defector community since it was established in 2010. She graduated from Wonsan Economic University in North Korea, moved to South Korea in 2002, and earned master’s and doctoral degrees in North Korean studies from Kyungnam University and Dongguk University. She has served as head of the North Korean Economy Team and senior research fellow at the Korea Development Bank, as well as head of the foundation’s External Cooperation Office. A North Korean economic expert, she has also served as an adviser to various government ministries and local governments, including as head of the North Korea Development Research Institute, an incorporated association.

The Ministry of Unification explained the appointment, saying, “Drawing on her expertise and the experiences she has gained over more than 20 years of settling into our society, we expect her to lead the foundation effectively from the perspective of North Korean defectors and with an understanding of their needs.” It added, “She is expected to enhance the representation of North Korean defectors and contribute to communication and harmony within their community, as well as social integration between North and South Korean residents in our society.”

Unification Minister Chung Dongyoung said, “As someone who understands the pain and tears of North Korean defectors better than anyone, I ask her to ensure that government policies for them provide support without leaving anyone in the gaps. In particular, I ask her to work harder to identify households facing crises among North Korean defectors across the country at an early stage through cooperation between the foundation and Hana Centers, and to support their economic self-reliance, which addresses the root cause of their difficulties.”

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