• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.41-61
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the North Korean defectors's depression through the CES-D and a projective test simultaneously. So 40 North Korean defectors and 40 South Koreans participated in this study. The results are the following. First, the North Korean defectors demonstrated more higher CES-D scores than the South Koreans, while there were not significant differences in the Rorschach depression-related indexes, DEPI, CDI, S-CON between two groups. Second, at the analysis of the sex difference effect, women among the North Korean defectors showed the most high CDI index scores. In addition, we analyzed the mean differences between two groups for morbid content, shading response, achromatic response, human movement response, form dimension response, Lamda, and the number of total response. However, there are not significant differences between two groups for those variables, except for form dimension(FD) response. It suggested the probability that the North Korean women defectors could experience more psychological distress underlyingly than the North Korean men defectors. Third, most importantly, the correlation between CES-D and DEPI in the Rorschach test was significantly different in the two groups(the North Korean defectors and the South Koreans). In conclusion, the self-report of the North Korean defectors on depression could be exaggerated. So we should be cautious to interpret the self report results of the North Korean defectors.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2011

Objectives: The present study aims to investigate the effects of physical illness on depression in North Korean Defectors. Methods: One hundred forty-four North Korean Defectors(20 males, 124 females) and 376 South Koreans 133 males, 243 females) in Incheon Metropolitan areas participated the present study. Face-to-face interview was conducted for demographic information including presence of physical illnesses. To investigate depressive symptoms, all participants were required to complete the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Results: After controlling gender, age, marital status, educational year, employment status and physical illness, North Korean Defectors showed higher CES-D score than South Koreans(${\beta}$=0.449, p<0.001). Within North Korean Defectors, the presence of physical illnesses independently was related to higher CES-D score(${\beta}$=0.243, p<0.001). However, within South Koreans, the presence of physical illnesses did not significantly predict CES-D score. North Korean Defectors with physical illness have higher CES-D score than North Korean Defectors without physical illness($26.8{\pm}13.8$ versus $19.7{\pm}12.7$). However, there was no significant differences of CES-D score between South Koreans with physical illness and South Koreans without physical illness($10.3{\pm}9.8$ versus $9.3{\pm}8.8$). Conclusion: Compared to South Koreans, North Korean Defector showed higher depressive symptoms independently from gender, age, education, employment, marriage. In addition, only North Korean Defectors showed the relationship between depression and physical illness. Our study suggests that depression should be assessed when North Korean Defectors have physical illness.

• Journal of Information Management
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.71-93
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• 2010

This study firstly considered the changing processes of the 'guideline on dealing with restricted materials and information' which had been theoretical background for understanding the dealing situations of materials and information on North Korea. Additionally, this study investigated material possessions which were located in restricted-materials-dealing institutions affiliated with Ministry of Unification and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and also researched using results of the materials. Through the investigation analysis and precedent studies, problems caused by poor material using conditions were found and institutional developing plans were sought. In particular, this study suggested that 'the Interchange Council for North Korean Information and Materials' be constructed as a general management organization which controls many problems caused by using and treating materials and information on North Korea and cooperative models that can lead organic connection among all institutions for dealing with restricted materials and information.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.649-657
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of college life in North Korean defectors attending nursing school in South Korea, through a qualitative study method. Between September and October 2017, 8 nursing students of North Korean defectors background who can fully describe their college life were recruited for in-depth interview. Using Colaizzi's phenomenological method of data analysis, 4 theme clusters and 5 subcategories were deduced. The results showed that participants had experienced difficulties in preparing for college admission. Moreover, they had experienced difficulties from differences between North and South Korea, especially regarding verbal language (accent), educational and assessment methods, and culture. Therefore, the establishment and application of an assistant program for nursing students of North Korean defectors background is essential to assist students in adapting to a new college lifestyle and completing their degree.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2020

There is a noticeable gap in the personnel structures of clinical laboratories between North Korea and South Korea. In North Korea, 'Laboratory Doctor' is similar to the workforce of 'Medical Technologist (commonly known as Clinical Laboratory Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist)' in South Korea. Considering preceding research based on the verbal evidence of North Korean healthcare personnel defectors, it is estimated that the status of laboratory doctor in North Korea generally corresponds to physician and feldsher (such as physician assistant in Western countries). Physicians and feldshers are trained and fostered for five and a half years in medical universities and for three years in medical vocational schools (so-called junior college of medicine). Unlike South Korea, the North Korea's healthcare personnel system does not subdivide the tasks, education, qualifications and law regarding the specialties of health experts. It is thought that the Korean Association of Medical Technologists needs to collaboratively search and present the milestones for establishment of a professional system on clinical laboratory personnel in North Korea through cooperative research on policies with the related organizations for better preparation of the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.507-528
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• 2009

Coping and defense are similar psychological mechanisms to reduce stress response, but they are regarded as distinct from each other. Defense involved distortions of reality, but coping was used for strategies associated with accepting the true nature of the situation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the coping and defense features of the North Korean Defectors in the Rorschach test. The subjects were then categorized into four groups based on their birth place and gender: Male North Korean defectors( N=16), female North Korean defectors(N=28), male South Koreans(N=17), and female South Koreans(N=25). All subjects were individually administered the Rorschach test, and protocols were scored according to the Exner(2003)'s Rorschach Comprehensive systems. Coping or defense-related Rorschach variables were selected for analysis: EA, CDI, Adj D, EB style, Lamda, Zd, X-%, Xu%, W:Dd:D, P, reaction time, and other behavior characteristics during the testing. Compared with other groups, female North Korean defectors were more likely to show poor coping resources(low EA), adjustment difficulties(Adj D), and distortions of reality(high X-%). They also demonstrated more 'don't know' responses and more delayed responses than other groups. These findings suggest that poor coping resources make female North Korean defectors more vulnerable to stress, and psychological intervention such as social skills training may help them settle successfully in south Korea. Limitations of the current study and implications for future research were discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.262-269
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• 2019

This study was conducted to pave the way for the development and operation of education and training programs to nurture skilled North Korean construction workers. Such programs would help to meet the expanded demand for setting up infrastructure, which is the backbone of the two Koreas' economic cooperation and mutual development. To achieve this initiative, the targets and scopes of education and training were determined by classifying business types for education and training purposes by construction sector. Furthermore, each education and training course and their allocated time frames were analyzed. Issues related to inter-Korean economic cooperation in the border area were also analyzed to determine regional characteristics. Education and training programs were thus classified into three types of infrastructure units: society, industry, and life infrastructure units. Social infrastructure units are the common demand of the whole border area, including construction of roads, railways, and harbors, as well as inspection and maintenance. Industrial infrastructure units are programs for industrial facilities centering on the designated special economic zone in the western part of the border area. Life infrastructure units are programs for infrastructure facilities such as large, complex facilities and residential facilities for the eastern tourist belt side.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.367-385
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• 2004

This study intends to compare the way of introducing fractions in elementary mathematics textbooks of south and those of north Korea. After thorough investigations of the seven differences were identified. First, the mathematics textbooks of south Korea use concrete materials like apples when they introduce equal partition context, while those of north Korea do not use that kind of concrete materials. Second, in the textbooks of south Korea, equal partition of discrete quantities are considered after continuous ones are introduced. This is different from the approach of the north Korean text-books in which both quantities are regarded at the same time. Third, the quantitative fraction which refers to the rational number with unit of measure at the end of it, is hardly used in the textbooks of south. However, the textbooks of north Korea use it as the main representations of fractions. Fourth, in the textbooks of south Korea, vanous activities related to fractions are more emphasized, while in the textbooks of north Korea, various meanings of fractions textbooks from south and north Korea focused on the ways of introducing partition approach and equivalence relation as operational schemes of fractions, the following play an important role before defining fraction. Fifth, the textbooks of south Korea introduce equivalent fractions with number one using number bar, and do not consider the reason why that sort of fractions are regarded. On the contrary, the textbooks of north Korea introduce structural equivalence relation by using various contexts including length measure and volume measure situations. Sixth, whereas real-life contexts are provided for introducing equivalent fractions in the textbooks of south Korea, visual explanations and mathematical representations play an important role in the textbooks of north Korea. Seventh, the means of finding equivalent fractions are provided directly in the textbooks of south Korea, whereas the nature of equivalent fractions and the methods of making equivalent fractions are considered in the textbooks of north Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.313-322
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• 2019

This study poses a question on whether the Jangmadang Generation, which has been the focus of the sociological interest, can form an actual generation by transcending the social classes, status of students, ethnicity, and gender, etc. Therefore, in this study, the author compared the consciousness of the Jangmadang Generation in terms of politics, education, society, compliance with law, and education with their preceding generations. The data used in this study were gathered from the North Korean defectors who defected within the past five years over the period from November to December 2016. A total of 200 questionnaires were used for data analysis, which was conducted using SPSS 20.0, in order to show differences between groups and perform frequency analysis. The analysis results showed that the consciousness of the Jangmadang Generation in politics, society, compliance, and education was lower, while the economic consciousness was significantly higher compared to earlier generations. As their objective generational status, the Jangmadang Generation had experienced the 'March of Ordeal' and 'Collapse of Public Education' while they were still teenagers. Such a difference in their generational status influenced the formation of different consciousness as a generation compared to the earlier generations. Compared to the earlier generations who received 'proper public education,' the Jangmadang Generation, who did not receive 'decent public education' shows a generally lower level of consciousness compared to the earlier generations. As such, the Jangmadang Generation has the potential to form a separate generation with a different generation consciousness from that of earlier generations.

• Journal of Korean Classical Literature and Education
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• no.32
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• pp.193-224
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• 2016

The North Korean animation is a puppet movie that is adapted The Brother and Sister Who Became the Sun and the Moon, a traditional Korean lore. The quality of this animation is acknowledged because of not only North Korea's considerably advanced animation technology but also the animation's retention of the folklore's traditional essence rather than intention to disseminate ideological propaganda. Nevertheless, the animation reveals the trasformation of its original purpose from general educative intentions for children to the educative concept of salvation by heaven is replaced by salvation by people and cultural education insteadof salvation by heaven. The appearance of the hero Jangsoe is the key adaptation of this animation, and it suggests the main principal of salvation lies in man rather than in heaven. Such adaptation complies with the requirements of children's literature suggested by the North Korea's literary history office. Furthemore the hero Jangsoe as the examplary figure of revolutionary self-reliance ideology and as a leader. Theory of self-reliance literature stipulates that children's literature is used for ideological education that develops people to be successors of revolutionary feats and become active workers for the construction of socialism and communism, therefore it is possible to understand the purpose of the adaptation to reflect the educational aims. This study investigates the change in meaning form the original folktale through such adaptation, and highlights problems related to limiting the meaning implied in "heaven's salvation" in the original story only to the vague meaning of religious hope. This vague implied meaning is considered as "an awareness activity to examine their own existence in the universe". With regard to this, the concept of heaven's salvation that is prevalent in the classic stories can be interpreted as a positive self-belief that enables the use of rationality in any helpless situation that cannot be understood with existing empirical knowledge. It considers that heaven expresses the power that exists in the human mind through self-viability and self-belief. This creates the power of reason in the character to fight against the evil disguised as the mother, in the absence of the real mother.