• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.44 no.7 s.221
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• pp.141-152
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• 2006

This study explores the social-cultural adjustments of North Korean defectors with respect to their self-esteem and internal attribution. The data were obtained from a survey of 195 North Korean defectors who had recently entered South Korea. The respondents had moderate difficulties in their social-cultural adjustment consisting of social activity restriction, discrimination, and social exclusion. Their social-cultural adjustment was positively associated with internal attribution. Those with internal attribution tended to have fewer problems in adjusting to the social systems and culture of South Korea. The findings of this study imply that psychological resources play a role in enhancing the social-cultural adjustment of North Korean defectors.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2011

Purpose: This study investigated the degree of acculturation stress among North Korean Defectors and the coping method that they used to deal with it. Methods: Ninety-nine participants of this study were North Korean Defectors in Seoul and Daejeon. The tools of survey for this study were acculturation stress and stress-coping. Results: The score for acculturation stress among North Korean Defectors was $2.97{\pm}0.47$ which was a moderate level of stress. The score of problem-solving coping was $3.10{\pm}0.47$ and emotional coping got $2.85{\pm}0.52$. On acculturation stress, there were higher scores among people who were old-aged, married, low educational levels, dissatisfied with job, low monthly income, and living alone. On problem-solving coping, there were higher score among people who have jobs. Regarding emotional coping, there were higher score in people who have jobs, dissatisfaction with job, and living alone. The higher the problem-solving coping skill, the less the acculturation stress. Conclusion: Reducing of acculturation stress and increasing adaptation mechanism of North Korean Defectors are very important due to the results of this study. Therefore, adaptation programs like psycho-social counseling should be created for North Korean Defectors.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.63-74
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• 2007

As the number of North Koreans defectors entering South Korea with their family members increases, it becomes more important to explore the family characteristics that facilitate their adjustment. The data used in the present study was collected from a survey of 195 North Korean defectors. The aim of this study was to investigates how the structural and relational aspects of family influence the socio-cultural adjustment of North Korean defectors. The structural characteristics of family life included whether or not the defectors exited with their family members, whether they were living with family members, and whether they were living with family members under the age of 18. The relational characteristics included family cohesion and adaptability. The study results showed that living with young family members was negatively associated with the social activity restriction problems commonly perceived by North Korean defectors. Family cohesion was also negatively associated with the social activity restriction problems and positively associated with the social isolation problems. The results of this study also showed that family adaptability was not significantly associated with any socio-cultural adjustment problems.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.49
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• pp.217-246
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• 2016

Most of the North Korean defectors are the socially disadvantaged, and formed the lowest class in South Korean society. Their main objectives are to achieve economic wealth. In this process, North Korean defectors have often committed the crime or have been criminal victims. The purpose of this study was to propose the effective preventive measures after analyzing the actual situation of North Korean defectors in criminal behaviors and criminal damages. This research has studied of the literature on the criminal behavior and the criminal damage by North Korean defectors, utilized the relevant statistical data, cited the news for the relevant cases, and proposed the effective preventive measures of criminal behaviors and criminal damages of North Korean defectors by doing in-depth interviews with personal protection officer First, in order to prevent criminal activity by North Korean defectors, we should uplift the identity as the members of Korean society, systemize the initial adapt education, enlarge the employment protection and the resettlement helper system, manage North Korean defectors according to adaptive type, develop the network, establish the management department for the defectors, strengthen the training of prison inmates, and strengthen the management of unprotected people. Next, in order to prevent the criminal damages of North Korean refugees, we should manage vulnerable North Korean defectors effectively, maintain the liaison between the personal protection officer and North Korean defector, arrange the personal safety measures in advance when traveling abroad, enhance the legal education for usual living in Korean society, and perform the re-education for the female socialization.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.791-803
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• 2021

To improve the oral health level of North Korean defectors, it is necessary to improve awareness of oral health care along with treatment of oral diseases. The purpose of this study is to develop an oral health education program that can be applied to North Korean defectors who have settled in local communities. To develop the program, three steps were taken: literature review, in-depth interview with experts, and program development applying the Dick&Carey model. As a result of in-depth expert interviews, what should be considered in oral health education for North Korean defectors is the need to understand North Korean defectors in advance, to familiarize themselves with the daily language of North Korea, to develop a synchronization strategy suitable for North Korean defectors, and to connect with whole body health. It was found that there was a need to establish the contents of education and to seek realistic education methods that reflect the characteristics of local communities. As a result of developing the program, fifty learning goals were developed, and ten sessions were planned. The oral health education program for North Korean defectors developed in this study will be of practical help to dental hygienists planning oral health education for North Korean defectors in the future and North Korean defectors.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.67-72
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• 2021

Objective : This study examined the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among North Korean defectors during preparation for early settlement. In addition, the correlation between PTSD and other mental disorders with suicidal ideation was assessed. Methods : A total of 639 North Korean defectors aged 19-65 years were included from resettlement and training centers. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Diagnostic Scale (PDS). The prevalence of other mental disorders and suicidal ideation were assessed using the Korean version of the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (K-PDSQ). Results : A total of 6.8% of North Korean defectors had a PDS score >23, which was suggestive of a diagnosis of PTSD. Prior repatriation to North Korea was significantly associated with PTSD. The defectors with PTSD had a higher prevalence of other mental disorders (major depressive disorder prevalence: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 14.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.7-31.2, panic disorder prevalence: AOR, 9.5; 95% CI, 4.6-20.0, generalized anxiety disorder prevalence: AOR, 5.6; 95% CI, 2.4-13.2). No significant association was found between suicidal ideation and PTSD. Conclusion : North Korean defectors had a relatively high prevalence of PTSD and suicidal ideation during preparation for early settlement. Cohort studies are needed to assess the lasting effects of PTSD on North Korean defectors' settlement in Korea for a longer period.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.61-81
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of North Korea defectors' living experiences in South Korea on their self-perceptions and perceptions of South Korea. For this purpose, a questionnaire was distributed to 66 defectors with no living experiences at all and 99 defectors with living experiences of an average of 2.7 years in South Korea. They were asked to rate their own as well as South Koreans' values, personality, attitudes toward sexual misbehavior, gender stereotypes. Also, they evaluated the society of South Korea and its political control. The results indicated that those defectors with living experiences tended to perceive more negatively their own and South Koreans as well, and yet that they were less negative for sexual misbehavior and weaker for gender stereotypes. Also, results suggested that living experiences led defectors to perceive South Korea in a more negative way. Those findings were discussed in terms of changes in culture.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.51
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• pp.223-249
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the actual situation of crime victimization by North Korean defectors and to examine whether any of the protection and support systems for defectors has a statistically significant effect on the perceived effectiveness for preventing the criminal victimization of North Korean Defectors. The subjects of this study were 107 police officers from the 17 provincial police departments. Independent variables were (1) social adaptation education in Hanawon, (2) protection officer system, (3) legal support system, (4) private participation system, (5) support for family life, (6) community participation activity. And the dependent variable is the crime prevention effectiveness for the defectors. As a result of multiple regression analysis, it was found that the independent variables that have a significant effect on the effectiveness of prevention of crime victimization were protection officer system and support for family life. First, in order to prevent the crime victimization of North Korean defectors in advance, three kinds of protection officer system that will be received after the transfer of the residence should play the role successfully. Second, the efforts of the government and municipalities alone are insufficient for the early settlement of North Korean defectors. Therefore, it is necessary to diversify the support and protection programs for North Korean refugees through cooperation with civic organizations. Third, it is necessary to expand the legal education time so that North Korean defectors do not suffer crime because of lack of legal knowledge. Fourth, in order to prevent North Korean defectors from being victimized by various kinds of crime, it is necessary to actively support them so that family life can be stabilized.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.229-243
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to understand North Korean female defectors' survival strategies in China. In this research, 13 female defectors in China were interviewed. There seemed to be 6 survival strategies in the interview. They disguised themselves as if they were Chosunjok；they tried to wear fashionable clothes, to mimic Chosunjok dialect, to speak mingling Chinese words with Korean words, and to get counterfeit ID cards. They suppressed themselves from showing their angers or resentment against Chinese who looked down on them due to their illegal status, but they would seek chances to revenge on them in the future. They have survived by gelling married to Chinese, but they were reluctant to have a baby because it was not for sure what their future lives are going to be like. They were alert against people around them all the time, especially against North Korean defectors, and were conscious of their competitive relationship among themselves. Finally, some of them appeared to seek routes to immigrate to South Korea, but others who didn't yet make up their minds to immigrate to South Korea had vague anticipations of North and South Koreas to be reunified.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.317-330
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• 2018

Objectives: This study explores the characteristics of family migration for North Korean defectors and classifies family migration by examining who initiated the migration and who followed. Method: We analyzed the family migration using detailed stories from fifty-five North Korean defectors who were interviewed between 2005 and 2011. Results: We found that 43 out of 55 cases were family migration and the remaining 12 cases were single person migration. We also found several characteristics typical of migration. First, family migration followed the process of step migration, which indicated a serial migration in numbers. Second, migration relied heavily on informal social networks. Finally, the process of earlier migration by North Koreans was incidental and unexpected; however, unexpectedness has diminished in recent migration. Looking at who initiated the migration, the most common type was 'mother-initiated' cases (14 cases) followed by 'child-initiated' cases (10 cases). The third most common type was 'mother-child accompanied' cases (7 cases). The migration process was various; however the most common type was when a married woman initiated the family migration process. This is most likely because married women have the responsibility to support families in the informal economy of North Korea. According to the range of family migrated, the most common type was 'nuclear-family only' cases (22 cases) followed by 'maternal extended family migration' cases (12 cases). Conclusions: The findings of this study provide information on the family dynamics of North Korean defectors.