Stereotyped impressions of North Korean refugees hurting Korean reunification

Compared to about decade ago when there was widespread opposition to reunification, a growing number of Koreans now seem to be settling for it. With increasing public discourse on the issue, including the current jostling over a mandatory reunification tax (total set at 55 trillion Won or USD49.4 billion), the move appears imminent, at least from the South Korean side. Of course, widespread preparations are being anticipated with the Ministry of Unification taking the lead in establishing various structures for accommodating and integrating North Koreans in case reunification eventually sees the light of day. Nevertheless, protracted views of North Korean refugees as pests, usurpers and rogues that frequently find expression among South Koreans might be doing more in offsetting the psychological balance required for such an ambitious project.

In his trip to New York early this month, the Minister of Unification expressed his hope to see a convergence in the people’s will in the reunification process and called on all South Koreans to push the process by making financial contributions based on the emotions they feel when singing the unification song “Our Wish is Reunification.” Remarkable as it seems, yet money does not buy desires all the time!

So far, we know that North Koreans as citizens certainly did not chose despondency over prosperity just as they did not opt for senseless imprisonment in place of freedom. A majority of them happen to be victims who grow up to find themselves dangerously entrapped under the high hand of a repressive regime. They suffer gross economic deprivations; must withstand the violation of their civil liberties; must not escape for refuge or practice a religion and must praise the regime at all times. The state’s strongman Kim Jong-il has carved out for himself a nuclear sanctuary manned by a callous military that saps up the tons of food aid sent from the South and other countries to the suffering masses. Those who succeed to escape from the cruelty tell horror tales of human rights abuses from the regime that usually results in the death and secret disposal of the victims. Yet, once escaped they risk reclining into the same life of oppression in the hands of their new employers, brokers, state agents and new neighbors.

Over 23,000 North Korean refugees are currently in South Korea. They come traumatized and frightened but on the other hand dazzled at the abundance of food, prosperity and above all the freedom reigning in South Korea. They dream of a new beginning but remain haunted by the draconian consequences at home were they ever to be repatriated for their defection. That dream does not come easy with numerous visible and invisible discriminations tied to them in various domains of everyday life. Potential employers and other citizens continue to look at them with waywardness, suspicion and disdain; meanwhile government’s one-size-fits-all training policy for them confines them to low level jobs like cleaning, cooking and nursing though some do have higher education and demonstrate credible abilities. Without their families and barely surviving on meager disbursements from the government’s unification ministry and charity organizations, their psychological pain is often far from over.

A young defector recently recounted of how she has spent almost every month of her 21 years on earth finding enough food to stay alive! While this might be one in a thousand cases, it is remarkable that an adult who has known nothing but oppression her entire life retains hope for a brighter future! It takes only the combination of the courage of a lion and the slyness of a fox to dream and successfully embark on an escape mission from one of the world’s most secluded terrains. Likewise, it takes a true heart to tirelessly work to secure the over USD10,000 broker fees to rescue a family member or loved one from North Korea as those that have succeeded in escaping to neighboring countries are reportedly doing.

As much as genuine worries remain as to the security threat some of these refugees could pose, it might prove important seeing them primarily as humans with equal rights; capable of reconstituting themselves enough to pursue and attain economic and social stability. It is incumbent on South Korean authorities to take measures that seek to close the possibilities of some of them posing security problems but it is also possible that this can be done responsibly, without resorting to any methodical abuses of their rights as humans.

If reunification is inevitable and if it must be realized peacefully, it would be important for the journey to begin with a mental reinvigoration, which allows for a more accommodating idealizing of North Korean refugees. This is precisely what aid groups and state authorities should strive to reflect in any new legislation or policy towards North Korea in the new quest for reunification.

*The author Vernasius T. Tandia, Ph.D. teaches “International Organization” at the Department of International Relations at Daegu University in Korea. He specializes in international peace and security strategy and may be contacted at tvtandia@gmail.com.