• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.85-106
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to learn from Korean female defectors about their views of child-rearing experiences in South Korea. This study explored how 7 North Korean female defectors with young children developed child-rearing microideologies that acknowledge both North Korean cultural ideology and South Korean cultural ideology. Methods: To examine North Korean female defectors' child-rearing experiences, indepth interviews with 7 North Korean female defectors with young children were conducted. Results: Four theme clusters, 11 themes, and 47 meanings were found from a phenomenological analysis with indepth interview data. Based on the themes, three types of child-rearing microideologies were identified: (1) separation,(2) assimilation, and (3) integration. Each type of child-rearing microideology can be understood with a meaningful phrase "there is no choice", "nevertheless" and "because I came here to be better," respectively. Conclusion/Implications: This study provides knowledge on the individual-specified child-rearing strategy of North Korean female defectors with young children and suggests the necessity of diverse policy proposals based on the child-rearing microideology types.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.71-86
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate North Korean child defectors and South Korean children's pro-social moral reasoning, pro-social decision-making, moral reasoning and moral judgement on violence. The participants were 82 North Korean child defectors and 186 South Korean children in Seoul and Kyunggi Province. All respondents answered self-report questionnaires including 6 stories of pro-social moral conflicts and 4 stories of moral conflicts on violence. Data were analyzed by independent sample t-test, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, repeated measure ANOVA and one-way ANOVA. The major findings were as follows. First, North Korean child defectors showed a bigger difference between the level of pro-social moral reasoning in close relationship situations and that in distant relationship situations than South Korean children did. In the 11-13 year old group, North Korean child defectors showed lower level of pro-social moral reasoning than that of South Korean children. Second, children showed more helping responses in close relationship situations than in distant relationship situations. The 11-13 year old group Children also showed more helping responses than the 14-16 year old group did. Third, 11-13 year old South Korean children showed a higher level of moral reasoning on violence than the North Korean child defectors did. Finally, North Korean child defectors judged violence with a justifiable intention as being more wrong than South Korean children did.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-31
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• 2009

This study aims to conduct a music psychotherapy program on North Korean child defectors, who are experiencing acculturative stress, and to discover the effects of the program on the participants' acculturative stress. This study targeted four North Korean child defectors, who belonged to an H afterschool class in Seoul and performed the program in individual sessions for about 40 minutes per session, totaling 14 sessions. The research results include the following. First, after comparing the results of acculturative stress score that measured before and after the execution of the music psychotherapy program, the mean of the score was significantly decreased from 32.75 to 23 average. Furthermore, as a result of conducting a qualitative analysis of the lingual responses that the participants demonstrated in musical activity, in relation to acculturative stress, the participants were found to experience a positive change. These results imply that the music psychotherapy program offers consistent support through music to North Korean Child Defectors, who are cowering psychologically and experiencing difficulty in adaptation, and reinforces inner resources through their positive self-perception, which indicates that it can be an effective mediation in reducing their acculturative stress.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.243-255
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and examine the effects of a psychosocial adaptation program for North Korean adolescent defectors. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 28 North Korean adolescent defectors who were recruited through alternative schools. The experimental and control groups consisted of 14 participants each. A program was conducted across eight sessions, each lasting about 90-120 minutes. The data were analyzed using the x² test, t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance. Results: No significant differences were observed in the score changes for psychosocial adaptation (t=0.25, p=.808), post-traumatic stress symptoms (t=0.32, p=.749), cultural adaptation stress (t=0.05, p=.957), and self-efficacy (t=0.35, p=.726) in either group before and after the intervention. No intergroup differences were observed for psychosocial adaptation (t=0.12, p=.902), post-traumatic stress symptoms (t=0.07, p=.946), cultural adaptation stress (t=0.01, p=.994), and self-efficacy (t=0.58, p=.570). Conclusion: These findings suggest that psychosocial adaptation, stress, and self-efficacy cannot be improved by a short-term intervention program alone. It was also determined that the cultural characteristics of the North Korean adolescent defectors were not sufficiently considered before implementing the program. Therefore, it is essential to provide an in-depth orientation for the participants before implementing the program.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.10
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• pp.385-395
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• 2017

This qualitative research is conducted to explore the balancing experience of work and child care of North Korean female defectors. Five of North Korean female defectors from double income family in their 40's were selected and interviewed. The interview data were analyzed by a phenomenological qualitative method. The five categories were derived from the data and included as follows: , , , , . Based on the results of the research the suggestions for practical services, such as parenting education, career path development programs and policies with gender perspective were made. Limitations of the research and further research recommendations were suggested as well.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.117-196
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• 2000

The purpose of the study was to provide ground information to develop social adjustment programs for North Korean residents who might migrate into South Korea when free transmigration is allowed in the process of reunification. For this purpose, two research methods were employed. First, depth interviews for 10 North Korean defectors were used to find out their social adjustment realities and problems. In addition, empirical survey research was carried out with 397 subjects to identify South Koreans'altitude toward North Korean defectors and the willingness to support them financially and emotionally. North Korean defectors's social adjustment problems were approached based on lifestyle. The depth interviews revealed that difficulties the defectors had experienced at first were mainly in the aspect of consumption caused by lack of understanding about capitalism. However, they could overcome difficulties and assimilate their ways of living to those of South Koreans soon. Other adjustment problems in family living and child rearing especially related with values had more complicated issues. Results of the empirical survey showed that South Koreans' level of interest in defecters was moderate but they thought them rather positively, sympathetically. Concerning supports, South Koreans were agreeing with governmental support more with emotional support than financial support by individuals. In conclusion, present formal education programs provided to defectors were not effective enough for them to team South Korean living culture. To learn by living with interactions with South Koreans was one of the best policies to help defectors' adaptation. Findings that South Koreans were willing to help them emotionally matched and balanced with defectors' needs.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.124-131
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• 2013

South Korea is changing into a multi-cultural society, due to an increase in international marriage, foreign workers and transcultural immigration. In addition, the number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has increased and now, there are approximately 25000. Therefore, this review have focused on a research that pertains to adaptation and mental health concerns of their children. Children who have immigrated themselves or whose parents have immigrated, might experience language barriers, difficulties in school adjustment, identity confusion and mental health problems. However, their academic performance and developmental status are known to be variable and be affected by socioeconomic status and their parents' educational level. Studies that evaluated the psychological problems of North Korean adolescent refugees' indicated the need for interests in both emotional and behavioral problems. The risk factors of North Korean adolescent refugees' mental health are suggested to be past traumatic experiences, long duration of defection and short period of adaptation. When mental health professionals provide assessment and treatment, they should consider the pre- and post-migration experiences & cultural background that affect the illness behaviors and attitudes toward mental illnesses. Lastly, the majority of children with multi-cultural background are still under an adolescent period and we should follow up with long-term perspectives.