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The primary goal of this article is to examine the social exclusion confronting North Korean refugees in South Korea and to explore the policy measures that will tackle this problem. The article first delves into North Korean refugees' social exclusion in terms of their alienation from mainstream Korean society, poverty, vocational instability, humble housing conditions, educational inequalities, and poor health. To alleviate the refugees' woes, this article suggests the following policy measures: the establishment of an administrative linkage and local governance system, encouragement of socio-cultural inclusion, promotion of economic self-help and independence, provision of comprehensive vocational services, and furtherance of a more comfortable residential environment.
Key Words: North Korean Refugees, Social Exclusion, Settlement, Adaptation
I. Introduction
Since the mid 1990s, a large number of North Korean (NK hereinafter) refugees have immigrated into South Korea (Korea hereinafter) in search of socio-political freedom and a better life. With the establishment of Korea-China diplomatic relations in 1992, many North Koreans crossed the North Korea-China border to seek asylum in Korea, a route that is much safer than traversing the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. Before the mid-1990s, the main impetus for defection was political or personal; from the mid-1990s onward, however, it was the economic condition of North Korea. NK people are aware of the progress and abundance of neighboring countries, such as China and Korea. The sudden death of North Korea's "revered leader" Kim ?-sung further spurred defection.
The exodus of NK refugees gained momentum in the 2000s; family-reunion and family-unit defections have been the most common types of defection. Refugees who made it through would then pay professional brokers to help them bring the rest of their family to Korea.
Ironically, although NK refugees troop to Korea in pursuit of freedom and economic well-being, many of them meet a multiplicity of difficulties when they get there. Because the two Koreas have been divided for over 60 years, almost all of NK refugees have a hard time in adapting to the Soufh's capitalist society. They suffer from social exclusion in many aspects, for which the Korean government has employed diverse remedial measures. However, many government policies have limitations in relevance, effectiveness, responsiveness, and adequacy. The government has not sufficiently addressed the assimilation of NK...