PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date of Issue: December 30th (Wed), 2020
For
inquiries: Please contact Hanna Song, NKDB at nkdb.org@hotmail.com or
070-42036621
Inside
the Effects of the Anti-Leaflet Law and COVID-19; Are North Korean Defectors
Safe?
“2020
Social and Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors in South Korea”
Research Results
○ NKDB and NKSR publish the ‘2020 Social and Economic Integration of
North Korean Defectors in South Korea.’
○ 65.7% of North Korean defectors sent
remittances to North Korea an average of 1.8 times despite the effects of COVID-19…
Total annual remittances fell by 14.22 million won compared to last year
○ The unemployment rate among North Korean Defectors is 7.7%, the
worst ever recorded… Over 2 times higher than last year’s 3.1%
1.
The
Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) and NK Social Research
(NKSR) are presenting the results of the “2020 Social and Economic Integration
of North Korean Defectors” survey on December 30th 2020. The survey
includes the status of social integration, such as contacting families, sending
money to North Korea, access to outside information, and awareness of
migration, as well as the economic integration status regarding employment
trends and economic activities such as employment, unemployment, and income.
2.
The North
Korean defectors’ social and economic integration survey has been carried out
every year since the first of its kind in 2005 to periodically gather and
analyze information regarding North Korean defectors’ economic activities and
trends. The survey gauges the level of employment trends and economic
activities among North Korean defectors, and the provision of these trends are
important. This research was carried out from November 30th until
December 15th, 2020 using an existing panel of North Korean
defectors (247 people, 59.7%) as well as newly added participants (167 people,
40.3%) comprising a total of 414 people. The survey was conducted by phone,
email, and in-person visits.
3.
The survey
results shows that among the 414 participants, 272 (65.7%) answered that they
have experience sending remittances to North Korea. Among those with
experience, 110 send remittances an average of 1.8 times this year. Those who
sent remittances in 2020 sent an average of 1.51 million won for each
transaction, for a total of 299.78 million won in 2020. Compared to last year’s
total amount of 314 million won, the total amount remitted declined by 14.22
million won.
4.
Among
the 414 participants, 160 (38.6%) continued to contact their families in North
Korea to confirm receipt of remittance (53.8%), check on family members
(35.6%), and business purposes (7.2%). Further, among the 414 participants, 254 (61.4%) said that they had exposure to
outside information when they were in North Korea. When asked about the
effect of the information, 140 respondents said the information increased
favorability for South Korean society (36.5%), 90 said it increased awareness
of the state of North Korea (23.4%), 48 said it provided recognition of simple
facts (12.5%), and 35 said that it increased their feelings of resistance to
the North Korean regime (9.1%).
5.
Among
survey participants, 260 (62.8%) are part of the economically active age group,
and of these 260, 20 (7.7%) are
unemployed, showing that the unemployment rate among North Korean defectors has
risen 4.6% from last year’s 3.1% unemployment rate. This figure is 2 times
higher than the unemployment rate among the general population. (See attached Annex.
1 for more detailed findings)
6.
We
appreciate your attention and coverage of the results of the “2020 Social and
Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors Survey.”
Event
Information
Event
Overview
Seminar on the Results of the “2020 Social and
Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors in South Korea”
- Date and Time: December 30, 2020 (Wed), 14:00-15:50
KST
- Method of Participation: Due to the rise in
cases of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, the seminar will be held
online. (Further details below)
- Webinar
Registration: https://forms.gle/dpmAbK3AP3gs1SZq5
-
Youtube Live: Search for ‘디비티비(DBTV)’ or ‘NKDB’ and connect to our live stream.
Event Agenda
14:00 - 14:10 Opening Remarks by NKDB Chairman of
the Board, Shin Young-ho
14:10 - 14:30
Topic 1: The Anti-Leaflet Law and the Status of
North Korean Defectors’ Remittances and Connections (Kim Sungnam, Research
Fellow at NKDB)
14:30-14:50 Topic 2: The Coronavirus Pandemic and the Status of North Korean Defectors
Economic Activities (Kim Sowon, Researcher at NKDB)
14:50-15:00 Break
15:00-15:40 Q&A
15:40-15:50 Closing
Remarks by NKDB Chairman of the Board, Shin Young-ho
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date of Issue: December 30th (Wed), 2020
For inquiries: Please contact Hanna Song, NKDB at nkdb.org@hotmail.com or 070-42036621
Inside the Effects of the Anti-Leaflet Law and COVID-19; Are North Korean Defectors Safe?
“2020 Social and Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors in South Korea” Research Results
○ NKDB and NKSR publish the ‘2020 Social and Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors in South Korea.’
○ 65.7% of North Korean defectors sent remittances to North Korea an average of 1.8 times despite the effects of COVID-19… Total annual remittances fell by 14.22 million won compared to last year
○ The unemployment rate among North Korean Defectors is 7.7%, the worst ever recorded… Over 2 times higher than last year’s 3.1%
1. The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) and NK Social Research (NKSR) are presenting the results of the “2020 Social and Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors” survey on December 30th 2020. The survey includes the status of social integration, such as contacting families, sending money to North Korea, access to outside information, and awareness of migration, as well as the economic integration status regarding employment trends and economic activities such as employment, unemployment, and income.
2. The North Korean defectors’ social and economic integration survey has been carried out every year since the first of its kind in 2005 to periodically gather and analyze information regarding North Korean defectors’ economic activities and trends. The survey gauges the level of employment trends and economic activities among North Korean defectors, and the provision of these trends are important. This research was carried out from November 30th until December 15th, 2020 using an existing panel of North Korean defectors (247 people, 59.7%) as well as newly added participants (167 people, 40.3%) comprising a total of 414 people. The survey was conducted by phone, email, and in-person visits.
3. The survey results shows that among the 414 participants, 272 (65.7%) answered that they have experience sending remittances to North Korea. Among those with experience, 110 send remittances an average of 1.8 times this year. Those who sent remittances in 2020 sent an average of 1.51 million won for each transaction, for a total of 299.78 million won in 2020. Compared to last year’s total amount of 314 million won, the total amount remitted declined by 14.22 million won.
4. Among the 414 participants, 160 (38.6%) continued to contact their families in North Korea to confirm receipt of remittance (53.8%), check on family members (35.6%), and business purposes (7.2%). Further, among the 414 participants, 254 (61.4%) said that they had exposure to outside information when they were in North Korea. When asked about the effect of the information, 140 respondents said the information increased favorability for South Korean society (36.5%), 90 said it increased awareness of the state of North Korea (23.4%), 48 said it provided recognition of simple facts (12.5%), and 35 said that it increased their feelings of resistance to the North Korean regime (9.1%).
5. Among survey participants, 260 (62.8%) are part of the economically active age group, and of these 260, 20 (7.7%) are unemployed, showing that the unemployment rate among North Korean defectors has risen 4.6% from last year’s 3.1% unemployment rate. This figure is 2 times higher than the unemployment rate among the general population. (See attached Annex. 1 for more detailed findings)
6. We appreciate your attention and coverage of the results of the “2020 Social and Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors Survey.”
Event Information
Event Overview
Seminar on the Results of the “2020 Social and Economic Integration of North Korean Defectors in South Korea”
- Date and Time: December 30, 2020 (Wed), 14:00-15:50 KST
- Method of Participation: Due to the rise in cases of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, the seminar will be held online. (Further details below)
- Webinar Registration: https://forms.gle/dpmAbK3AP3gs1SZq5
- Youtube Live: Search for ‘디비티비(DBTV)’ or ‘NKDB’ and connect to our live stream.
Event Agenda
14:00 - 14:10 Opening Remarks by NKDB Chairman of the Board, Shin Young-ho
14:10 - 14:30
Topic 1: The Anti-Leaflet Law and the Status of North Korean Defectors’ Remittances and Connections (Kim Sungnam, Research Fellow at NKDB)
14:30-14:50 Topic 2: The Coronavirus Pandemic and the Status of North Korean Defectors Economic Activities (Kim Sowon, Researcher at NKDB)
14:50-15:00 Break
15:00-15:40 Q&A
15:40-15:50 Closing Remarks by NKDB Chairman of the Board, Shin Young-ho