• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.467-486
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• 2012

By identifying the state of adjustment regarding mathematical education for adolescents who escaped from North Korea and analyzing the relevant factors from multiple perspectives, this study is aimed at finding improvement methods for their math education adoptability. To fulfill such objective, this paper-reviewed the existing literature and research, conducted participatory observation, collected and analyzed survey research on math education adoptability for 43 students who are currently attending an alternative school for North Korean defectors. The results of this research are as follows: There is a serious pattern of maladjustment concerning math education of adolescents who defected from North Korea. The lack of basic skills in mathematical principles due to the gap in their studies results in poor academic performance, particularly in the advanced stages of learning. In the process of defection, environmental challenges, such as the loss of basic study skills which naturally results from the gap in their studies and differences in the educational curriculum between North and South Korea, are posing difficulties for these students.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.357-369
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• 2020

This study examined the influential relationship between self-differentiation, interpersonal relationships, and social support of adolescent North Korean defectors as well as the mediating effects of social support in the relationship between self-differentiation and interpersonal relationships. For this study, the participants were selected among student North Korean defectors aged between 9 and 24 years. With these participants, a survey was conducted from November 4 to December 14, 2019. Two hundred eighteen questionnaires were used in the analyses, which were conducted with SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0. The analyses yielded the following findings. The self-differentiation of the adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on interpersonal relationships. The self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on social support, and the social support of adolescent North Korean defectors had a positive impact on interpersonal relationships. In the relationship between self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors and their interpersonal relationship, social support had a mediating effect. This study showed that by improving the level of social support and self-differentiation of adolescent North Korean defectors, it would be possible to improve their interpersonal relationship issues.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.623-634
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to examine the structural relationship between parental attachment, behavior problem, and empathetic capabilities. For this study, the researcher chose the study participants among the North-Korean defector high school students who are currently attending high schools. The survey was conducted over the period from April 4 to June 10, 2020. A total of 257 questionnaires were used for this study. The data of this study were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0. The findings of this study were as follows; First, the parental attachment of the juvenile North Korean defectors had a negative impact on delinquency. Second, the parental attachment of the juvenile North Korean defectors had a positive impact on empathetic capabilities. Third, the empathetic capabilities of juvenile North Korean defectors had a negative impact on delinquency. Fourth, in the relationship between parental attachment and delinquency, the empathetic capability was shown to have a significant mediating effect. This study showed that, in the perspective of social welfare or psycho-therapy, it is necessary to develop various programs to enhance the empathetic capabilities of juvenile North Korean defectors while helping them form a healthy attachment to their parents in order to reduce their delinquency.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.189-224
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• 2010

Nowadays Korean society has a fast growing population of North Korean immigrant youth. Especially, North Korean immigrant youth, who are discontinuing formal education, experience difficulties in social exclusion and adaptation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of adaptation and social support of North Korean immigrant youth discontinuing formal education, and to seek affirmative supporting plans and solutions for their adaptation. The methodology utilized for this study was a case study research. On the basis of the results and categorization, 'a network between overall categories and of early adaptation' was derived. The major findings of this study are summarized as follows. First, the participants of this study experienced major difficulties during 'economical adaptation', and their economical adaptation was strongly interrelated with their 'educational adaptation'. The discontinuing of their education resulting from their fleeing period caused 'academic differential and age disparity.' Thus they could not enroll in the formal education system, and their insufficient educational background resulted in low wages and overwork due to manual labor jobs. Second, participants recognized 'interpersonal relations' as the most essential factor in adaptation, and 'social support' from the interpersonal relations played an important role in adaptation to and comfort in Korean society. 'Interactions with South Koreans' was recognized as a significant resource for gaining informational and appraisal support, but was not activated satisfactorily. On the other hand, interaction with North Korean immigrants was avoided by the reason that 'there's nothing to learn', however emotional support from North Korean immigrants of close relationship played an important role in participants' adaptation, especially in all aspects of psychological adaptation. Third, participants experienced a lot of difficulties and stresses in their 'physical health and psychological adaptation'. Their chronic diseases worsened by remaining untreated, and female perceived symptoms were observed more often than in male. Meanwhile, excessive 'stresses' from the unfamiliar environment of South Korea negatively affected their psychological adaptation. However, they were satisfied with sense of liberty and security from living in a democratic society.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.324-331
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• 2000

A deteriorating North Korean economy, coupled with a devastating natural disaster such as flooding and drought in recent years, brought about a severe food shortage and malnutrition problem which caused a migration of its population including young children to neighboring countries. We conducted a nutritional survey on a total of 436 children, aged 4-19 years old, who migrated to the China side of the border from July to September, 1999. The study subjects were interviewed by Korean-Chinese interviewers who were trained for anthropometric measurements and dietary surveys. Heights, weights, and chest circumference of the subjects were 70-90% of the South Korean reference values for the corresponding age and sex. Dietary intakes of the subjects were found to be extremely poor-the average number of food, mostly of plant origin, consumed in a day was 2.8, and the proportion of the subject who reported to take all three meals in a day while residing in North Korea was as low as 36.2%. Ninety five percent of the subjects had at least one clinical symptom related to malnutrition, 68.6% had 2-4 symptoms, and 15.1% had 5 or more symptoms. The results of this study provided an objective data for the first time on the severity of the food crisis and malnutrition problem that afflicted North Korean older children and adolescents as well as children aged 7 or under as previously reported elsewhere. the wasted and stunted children and youths prevailing in North Korea could exert a negative influence on the country's health and economy. More researches are needed in the future to investigate on the impact of malnutrition in North Korean children on the country's social, economic, and cultural state as well as on the health and nutrition situation.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.168-179
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• 2016

This study attempted to analyze the relationship between school life satisfaction and acculturation of elementary students of north Korean refugees in Daegu and Gyeongbuk region. The socio-demographic characteristics of elementary students in Daegu and Gyeongbuk were different from in capital territory or other parts of Korea. The acculturation of students living in Daegu and Gyeongbuk was distinctive. The proportion of assimilation was slightly higher than that of integration. However, 42 percent of students belonging to separation and marginalization passively accepted south Korean culture, so that they would have a difficult time in adjusting to new culture. Students getting older and being used to school life strongly inclined to accept south Korean culture; while, students born in north Korea tended to resist acceptance of south Korean culture. Most students were satisfied with school life. The satisfaction level was high in the relationship with teachers and school environment; while, the satisfaction level in learning activity was relatively low. In the relationship between school satisfaction and types of acculturation, students actively accepting new culture were relatively highly satisfied with their school life. A standardized short-term education oriented program for north Korean adolescents refugees living in south Korea should be shifted into the long-term support policy reflected in class and attribute in terms of acculturation.