• Title/Summary/Keyword: human rights of north korea

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A Study on the Effectiveness of Investment Protection in North Korea (대북 투자보호의 실효성 제고 방안에 대한 고찰)

  • Hyun-suk Oh
    • Journal of Arbitration Studies
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.53-83
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    • 2023
  • The investment agreement prepared at the beginning of inter-Korean economic cooperation in 2000 can be evaluated as very ineffective as a product of mutual political and diplomatic compromise rather than an effective protection for our investment assets. South Korean companies suffered a lot of losses due to the freezing of assets in the Geumgang mountain district and the closure of the Kaeseung Industrial Complex, but they did not receive practical damage relief due to institutional vulnerabilities. Currently, North Korea is under international economic sanctions of the UN Security Council, so it is true that the resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation is far away, but North Korea's human resources and geographical location are still attractive investment destinations for us. Therefore, if strained relations between the two Koreas recover in the future and international economic sanctions on North Korea are eased, Korean companies' investment in North Korea will resume. However, the previous inter-Korean investment agreement system was a fictional systemthat was ineffective. Therefore, if these safety devices are not reorganized when economic cooperation resumes, unfair damage to Korean companies will be repeated again. The core of the improved investment guarantee system is not a bilateral system between the two Koreas, but the establishment of a multilateral system through North Korea's inclusion in the international economy. Specifically, it includes encouraging North Korea to join international agreements for the execution of arbitration decisions, securing subrogation rights through membership of international insurance groups such as MIGA, creating matching funds by international financial organizations. Through this new approach, it will be possible to improve the safety of Korean companies' investment in North Korea, and ultimately, it will be necessary to lay the foundation for mutual development through economic cooperation between the two Koreas.

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A Study on the recovery predictive factors for North Korean refugees with torture experience (북한이탈주민의 고문으로 인한 외상 후 충격에 영향을 미치는 요인)

  • Kim, Hyun Kyoung
    • Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.81-106
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study was to find out correlation and predictors of recovery predictive factors for North Korean refugees experienced torture in South Korea. This survey was conducted on 205 North Korean refugees with questions on socio-demographic variables, mental health & personality variables, and social & economical variables. The influence of these variables was analysed. Result indicated that sex, age, disease, child living in the North, marriage experience in the North and the China were associated with post-traumatic stress of torture. Also, depression, rumination, self-efficacy, resilience, secure-attachment, social support from the South, economic difficulties predicted the recovery for North Korean refugees with torture experience. Finally, clinical intervention with healing relationship and human rights for North Korean refugees were discussed.

A Study on the personal protection system for North Korean refugees in South Korea (북한이탈주민 신변보호 체계에 관한 연구)

  • Song, Eun-Hee;Sul, Jin-Bae;Jang, Myung-Sun
    • Korea and Global Affairs
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.63-88
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of the present paper is to examine the North Korean refugee protection system and its shortcomings. Based on the findings from the analysis of legal system and status of personal protection, this paper proposes the following measures to solve the problems and improve South Korea's existing system. First of all, personal protection for North Korean refugees should be carried out in an inclusive and humanitarian manner. Secondly, the collaborative governance operating system for protecting North Korean refugees should be established. Lastly, clear guidelines for personal protection procedures should be developed to ensure personal protection officers'accountability.

A Study on the Motive of Escape from the North Korea and the Life Situation of Female Fugitives in China - based on the Interview with North Korean Female Refugees in Yenben Province - (북한 여성들의 탈북동기와 생활실태 - 중국 연변지역의 탈북 여성들을 중심으로 -)

  • 문숙재;김지희;이명근
    • Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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    • v.38 no.5
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    • pp.137-152
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    • 2000
  • North Korean fugitives is one of various nominations referring to the North Koreans who have secretly crossed the territorial border of their country. It is a new terminology that huts gained wider usage in our society as we entered the 1990s. North Koreans list various motives for escaping their county, such as food shortage and disillusionment of belief in the system. Most of the forced repatriation of North Korean escapees takes place in China. The purpose of this study examines the family knife of female fugitives from North Korea in order to provide pertinent alterntives which are needed to secure basic human right of the female fugitives and enable them to keep stability of their family lives and to adapt themselves into new socio-cultural circumstances in China. For this, the preliminary survey performed to examine the demographic characteristics on the female fugitives; to find out the incentives and channels of their escape out of North Korea; to investigate what types of family life and family relationship they manage in China; to grasp their problems and need of family life in adaptation into Chinese society. The specific questions for grasping the general characteristics of the female fugitives are composed of age, education level residential district in North Korea. In order to find out main causes and influential factors of their escape from North Korea, the following questions are included: what the most important incentives and motives are; the frequency of escape; and whether they discuss their escape with their family or not. The questions to find out their present actual life situations in China are about difficult things to adjust in China, family life, relationship with husband, and their conversational diction, the degree of their mastering the chinese language, the degree of their adaptation to chinese way of living, and so forth, which reveal to what extent they are adapted themselves to new cultural situation in China. This study collected the data through face-to-face personal interview from July to October, 1999 Yenben province along the China-North Korea border. Data from 202 female fugitives were used in final analysis. This study uses the SAS PC program for windows, Ver, 6.12 to analyze the data such as the distribution of frequency, percentage, mean and so on. The results from this analysis are follows; the most principal motive of North Korean women's escape to china is to eat to live because of famine. Concerning the year when the fugitives escape from North Korea, all of the interviewees haute escaped since 1990. After escape their continual contact with their family in North Korea, 81.7% of the respondent have not been in touch with their family. The main reasons for their not contacting with their family in North Korea are that it is not helpful although they contacts with their family. Female fugitives from North Korea have difficulties in life. They have rather stable relationship to their husband, but they have experienced difficulties in other aspects of family life. Their main difficulties are largely from their relationships to husbands'family members, and from the problems relate to their family in North Korea, and their children. Based on this study, further research has to present supportive policies that help North Korean female escapees live without being deprived and protect their human rights. And the development of practical program to help their efficient social adaptation has to be continued without stop together.

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A Technical Assessment of Possibility Sanction for Assistance to DPRK (대북 바이오가스플랜트 지원의 제재 가능성에 대한 기술적 평가)

  • Chung, Yongjin;Kwon, Yongchai
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.192-199
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    • 2015
  • Under the economic banner of "self-reliance," North Korea has focused on hydro and thermal power as its main energy supply sources. However, in the face of extreme energy penury caused by machinery and material supply instability in the wake of the collapse of the former communist block as well as equipment aging and deterioration due to floods and other disasters, North Korea and international aid organizations are increasingly turning their attention toward energy source diversification. In particular, renewable energy is recognized as the best strategic energy source for North Korea and it is a decentralized energy option that is suitable in light of North Korea's power distribution networks and its pursuit of self-reliance. Biogas can contribute to improving the human rights situation of North Koreans in conjunction with an increase in food production. For this reason, renewable energy is the most promising option for an energy source that is likely to secure humanitarian aid from international organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). However, the implementation of such humanitarian aid has been hampered by rising concerns about the diversion of provided energy materials for military purposes and the disguised introduction of dual use items strategic materials as well as UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions of the international community against North Korea's military provocation, including nuclear tests and missile launches. This paper explores the possibility of solving this dilemma and proceeding with the humanitarian aid to North Korea by evaluating the potential for sanction and the risk of diversion of the possible products for biogas-related aid on the basis of the list of UN-sanctioned items.

Korean HIV/AIDS Policy on International Migrants: Comparing with OECD Countries

  • Lee, Jung-Whan;Sohn, Ae-Ree
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.23 no.5
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    • pp.47-73
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    • 2006
  • Objectives: This study aims to identify gaps between knowledge regarding migration and the spread of HIV/AIDS, to improve understanding of migrants with HIV/AIDS and their human rights, and to make suggestions for Korean policy makers to reform laws and policies towards granting migrants with HIV/AIDS more human rights and access to treatment and care. Methods: This study is based on an extensive literature review, questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews from randomly selected 8 countries from 5 different continents: Japan from Asia; Australia from Oceania; Finland, Germany, Ireland and United Kingdom(UK) from Europe; and Canada and United States of America(USA) in North America. Results: This study has found that Korea has a discriminating policy regarding HIV/AIDS and foreigners. Classifying HIV/AIDS into a legal communicable disease, it requires a presentation of HIV/AIDS test results from foreigners wanting a long-term stay before entering. In principle, foreigners with HIV/AIDS cannot either enter or stay in Korea. If they are known infected with HIV/AIDS by any reason, they became to face an immediate deportation regardless of their sojourn statuses and purposes. Conclusion: With the results, this study suggests three reasons why Korean government needs to change the current HIV/AIDS policy on foreigners: 1) HIV-related travel restrictions have no public health justification, 2) its strict HIV/AIDS policy on foreigners could result in restriction on the mobility and migration of its people by the other countries, inversely, and 3) it needs to meet international guidelines and to observe conventions that international organizations suggest to maintain its status as a member of the international society.

Study on the Workers' Participation in Industries (일부(一部) 사업장(事業場)의 산업보건(産業保健) 사업(事業)에 있어서의 근로자(勤勞者) 참여(參與)에 관한 조사(調査) 연구(硏究))

  • Choi, Jae-Wook;Moon, Ok-Ryun
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.24 no.3 s.35
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    • pp.339-355
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    • 1991
  • The concept of workers' participation in occupational health was introduced to Korea recently in relation to primary health care in occupational health. But there is confusion and debate about workers' participation concept. The purpose of this study was to review the concepts of workers' participation and to conduct evaluation the workers' participation status in occupational health and safety, 394 workers and 54 employers (5.6%) in north area of Kyunggi-Do, were selected and interviewed with a questionnaire by a trained interviewer from August to September 1990. In general, the concept of workers' participation is based on industrial domocratisation and Declaration of Human Rights which had been powerful ideologies in labor movement. Contrary to workers' participation, community participation is rooted in the Health Rights. So, it is necessary to consider concept of workers' participation to improve participation. The results of survey were as follows. 1. Most of companies (71.75) carried out occupational health education to workers in study area. 2. The Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHC) were set up in 24.1% among the study companies, and 72.7% of workers among respondents thought that OSHC was helpful to workers health. 3. The workers signed his name to personal health report in 43.1% and the rate of participation in occupational environment examination was 54.9%. 4. The workers prefer the OSHC (39.3%), owner (35.1%) and union (25.8%) as a occupation health organisation, but owners prefer OSHC (54.5%), manager (43.2%) and union (2.3%). 5. Among the factors of the general characteristics, the existence of labor union was a major determinant of workers' attitude and level of workers' participation. As we have seen, most levels of workers' participation are low in occupational health. The variable of existence of labor union among the factors was a ma determinant of workers attitude and level of workers' participation. Therefore, in order to promote workers health, it is necessary to ponder long deeply on occupational health care system under the viewpoint of workers' participation.

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International Comparative Study on Education for International Understanding(EIU) : Based on the Regional Analysis of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Africa (국제이해교육의 지역별 동향 분석 연구: 유럽·북미·아시아태평양·아프리카를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Hyun-Duk;Kang, Soon-Won;Yi, Kyeong-Han;Kim, Da-Won
    • Korean Journal of Comparative Education
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.127-154
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    • 2017
  • EIU has evolved diversely depending on the national environment and culture on the basis of the philosophy of individual human rights and world peace articulated in the "1974 Recommendation on EIU". However, the global environment surrounding EIU has been changed socially, economically, culturally and ecologically in the 21st century, and therefore it is necessary to raise the following questions: Is the concept of EIU initiated for international understanding and cooperation for world peace in the 20th century still valid in the 21st century? Which direction should we take in order for EIU to be efficient in the globalized world? To answer these questions, this study reviewed and analyzed the historical development and current trends of the EIU in the regions of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific area, and Africa. For the empirical study, thirty-four experts in EIU selected from the four regions were interviewed by the researchers. Based on the interviews and the related literature review, it was found that the diverse terms of EIU were used in the four regions and the focus on EIU was different depending on the geographical, historical and social environment of each region. But, despite of the diversity in terminology in EIU, human rights, peace, equity and social justice which are emphasized by UNESCO, were universally taught in EIU. The EIU in these regions is currently dealt with in school education, social education and lifelong education, and particularly global citizenship allowing multiple identities is importantly treated together with citizenship education. Another important aspect of EIU that was commonly found in these four regions was that global citizenship education for solving global problems was coexistent with the reinforcement of nationalism for the economic competency of each nation in a globalized world. The issue of global inequality was particularly dealt with in EIU, and the teaching of voluntary civic involvement and responsibility were particularly emphasized in EIU. Based on these research findings, the study proposes "glocalism", connecting global issues with local issues for solving global problems, as a new approach to the EIU of the 21st century.

Multicultural Family Support Center Staff's Perceptions on Family Programs and Needs of Multicultural Family Programs based on the Family Life Cycle (다문화가족지원센터 종사자의 가족영역 지원 사업 인식 및 가족생활주기별 다문화가족 프로그램 필요도에 관한 연구)

  • Jun, Mikyung;Kang, Bogjeong;Son, Seohee;Lee, Eunjoo
    • Journal of Families and Better Life
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.147-163
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    • 2016
  • Multicultural Family Support Centers (MFSC) have provided five program areas including family, gender equality, human rights, social integration, and counseling since 2015. It is important to examine the MFSC staff's perceptions of the family programs and program needs for multicultural families to improve the effectiveness of these programs. In this study, we aim to explore the staff's perceptions of the family programs and to assess multicultural family program needs based on the family life cycle. A total of 130 MFSC staff were recruited through 128 MFSCs across Korea. Descriptive statistics were conducted for data analysis. Our findings revealed that MFSC staff have increasingly recognized that their target audiences are not only marriage immigrants and their families but also foreign workers' families and families from North Korea. In addition, the MFSC staff identified the importance of family programs instead of only programs for individual family members and multicultural families' different program needs based on their family life cycle. Contrary to the positive perception of the family programs, they described challenges of the family programs including a shortage of funds, difficulty recruiting family member combinations (e.g., couples, parent-child) for family programs, a lack of a program manual, and a heavy workload. This study provides insights into the family programs including their development and delivery.

Social Distance and Attitude toward Migrants' Citizenship in Korea (이주자에 대한 사회적 거리와 시민권에 대한 태도)

  • Jo, Dong-Gi
    • Korea journal of population studies
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.53-73
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate social distance and attitude toward migrants's citizenship in Korea, a society with increasing cultural diversity. Using data from the 'Multiculturalism and Social Integration Survey' conducted by Academy of Korean Studies in 2008, this study analyzes three main issues: social distance between Koreans and foreigners, perception of the bases of national identity, and attitude toward migrants' citizenship and the causal factors of the attitude. The results show that social distances between Koreans and African Blacks/Arabs are significantly larger than those between Koreans and other ethnic or racial groups. But the relatively large social distances between Koreans and South-East Asians/North Korean defectors poses a more serious challenge to Korean society, since South-East Asians and North Korean defectors have comprised ever bigger part of migrants in Korea. The civil element is found to be more important base of national identity than the cultural or the ethnic bases, and there exists a strong negative attitude toward dual nationality. The results of regression analysis suggest that the potential of global citizenship for migrants will be realized by expanding universalism for basic human rights and awareness of the civil base of national identity on the one hand, and by minimizing the strong belief in ethnic homogeneity and the negative attitude toward dual nationality on the other hand.