Date: Monday, May 17, 2021
Time: 10:30-10:40 A.M.
1. Ministry to finalize and implement the Third Master Plan
(2021~2023) and the 2021 Implementation Plan for Settlement Support
for North Korean Defectors
The Unification Ministry, in accordance with the North Korean
Refugees Protection and Settlement Support Act, formulates a Master
Plan for Settlement Support for North Korean Defectors every three
years, and devises an annual Implementation Plan to execute this
Master Plan.
Upon the completion of deliberation by the Consultative Council on
North Korean Defectors, the Third Master Plan and its 2021
Implementation Plan will be finalized tomorrow.
With the goal of realizing a warm community atmosphere where North
Korean defectors are welcomed as neighbors, the Third Master Plan
strives to provide settlement support with a focus on social
integration. This will be carried out through economic support
together with strengthened emotional and psychological support programs.
The Government adopted the “daily-life oriented support program for
North Korean defectors” as a policy task in 2017, and formulated a
Second Master Plan in 2018 with a focus on protecting vulnerable North
Korean defectors. As a result, improvements have been observed in the
objective and subjective indicators of settlement – the overall
economic activities of defectors, such as average monthly income, have
improved; the economic gap between defectors and the general public
has narrowed; and more North Korean defectors are expressing higher
life satisfaction.
However, North Korean defectors still experience economic,
psychological, and emotional difficulties in the process of settling
in the South due to their weak social network. This, in turn, has led
to a number of crisis including suicidę, death in solitude, sęxual
violence and attempts to return to the North.
The Third Master Plan, building on previous achievements and
limitations, sets forth a total of 24 tasks under six categories. It
strives to continue support efforts that seek to improve the
defectors’ daily living and protect those vulnerable. It also focuses
on providing psychological and emotional support, pursuing
participation and cooperation of government agencies and local
administrative bodies, and expanding customized services for defectors
that reflect their diverse needs.
In implementing the Third Master Plan, the Government will expand
the participation and role of local governments and systemize
cooperation with civic organizations to respond swiftly and
efficiently to crisis situations faced by North Korean defectors.
2. Minister’s Schedule
Minister Lee In-young will deliver congratulatory remarks at a panel
discussion on the ratification of inter-Korean agreements by the
National Assembly, arranged by five lawmakers and the Korean Council
for Reconciliation and Cooperation on May 20 at 2 P.M.
On May 21, Minister Lee will deliver congratulatory remarks at the
2021 DMZ Forum, as well as at an academic seminar co-hosted by the
Dosan Institute for National Unification and Seochon Forum.
3. Q&A (Partial)
Q. North Korea announced yesterday that it will not attend the
qualifying matches for the World Cup, a move following its withdrawal
from the Olympic Games. I would like to know if the Government has
plans to further encourage or persuade the North’s participation.
A. The Asian Football Confederation confirmed the withdrawal of
North Korea from the qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup for concerns
over Covid-19.
The Unification Ministry has maintained its position that an
opportunity for sports exchanges between the two Koreas on the
occasion of international sports events like the World Cup is viewed
positively. It is a shame to hear about the North’s recent decision.
The Government will continue efforts to seek other opportunities to
make progress in inter-Korean cooperation and advance peace on the
Korean Peninsula. However, the Ministry has no plans at the moment to
reach out to the North regarding its decision to not attend the
upcoming games.
Participation in the World Cup qualifiers is a matter that is to be
dealt with by the Asian Football Confederation while adhering to
FIFA’s international games regulations. It is not an issue of
inter-Korean consultation.
Q. An online media outlet reported a few days ago that the two North
Korean residents that were deported to the North in 2019 were killed
within two months after deportation. Is the Government aware of any
such information?
A. I would like to reiterate that the Government’s decision to
deport two North Korean residents back in 2019 was made with the
utmost regard for the lives and safety of the South Korean people,
which is the basic responsibility of the nation. However, the
Government does not have information on the conditions of these two
individuals after the deportation.
Q. Does this mean that the Government has not attempted to locate
these two deportees or is there no response coming from the North?
A. The Government has no information regarding the identity or
whereabouts of the deportees.
