Seminar in Woosuk University

On April 21st, 2010, Hanns Seidel Foundation in collaboration with Woosuk University hosted a seminar on the topic of the “Policy direction of social integration for North Korean defectors.” Hanns Seidel Foundation, together with Woosuk University’s Centre for Multi-culture spent time focusing on the pending issue of the how to improve the policy direction of social integration for North Korean defectors.

The first session of the program was moderated by Woosuk University Professor Ha, Tae-hyeon. The session began with director of the Centre for Multi-culture at Woosuk University; An Ok-hee’s opening remark, Woosuk University Dean, Ra Jong-Il’s welcoming speech, followed by Dr. Bernard Seliger, representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation, congratulatory speech. The first case study introduced the People for Successful Korean Reunification’s education program for North Korean youth refugee, which was presented by People for Successful Korean Reunification (PSCORE)’s representative, Kim Young-Il. The second presentation by Gang Cheol-ho, director of Support Centre for NK defectors’ self reliance discussed the difficulty for defectors to become a member in South Korean’s society. He also talks about how it is not only an issue for the defectors, but also for other ethnic groups to be accepted by the South Korean community. Choi Han-byeol, a North Korean refugee, began with a simple language quiz to emphasize the huge different between the Korean language in the North and the South which was developed over the past decades. After that she talked about the rough road defectors faced and how they would be able to successfully adapt to the South Korean society.

The second session was moderated by Woosuk University Professor Kim Tae-ho. Official Jo Jae-seop from the Ministry of Unification presented on the situation of support for NK defectors’s settlement, while Official Park Hyeong-kyu of the administrative department of Northern Jeolla province, responsible for providing help of self-reliance pointed out the need for support of the local government in the process of final settlement on matters such as employment, budgeting, etc. The next presentation was presented by Pusan National University Professor Lee Ki-young, who has researched about the integration of North Korean defectors for a long period of time. Woosuk University Professor Park Kyeong-soon used statistics and indicators about the NK defectors to explain their situation and the importance of receiving feedback from the defectors in order to improve policies. Seoul National University Professor Jeong Jin-sung’s presentation was on social integration programme for North Korean defectors. Professor Jeong emphasized the importance of creating a special program for NK defectors, especially for the increasing number of women with the cooperation of Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Following, Baesuk University Professor Joo Do-hong gave a proposal on the topic.

The seminar concluded with discussion and Q&A. Woosuk University and Hanns Seidel Foundation-Korea became partners in 2008 and also, Hanns Seidel Foundation Chairman, Dr. Hans Zehetmair, received an honorary doctorate from Woosuk University.

Ra Jong-il, Dean of Woosuk University (left) and Dr. Seliger, Representative of Hanns-Seidel- Foundation, Korea

Seminar participants