We will listen to the voices of North Korean defectors more
Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun visits the North Seoul Hana Center
(November 3)
On November 3, Unification Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun visited
the Hana Center in Northern Seoul* to observe participation programs
for North Korean defectors and gather the opinions of the hands-on workers.
* Hana Center: An integrated safety assistance center that serves as
a regional settlement hub by networking with related organizations for
all North Korean defectors who require regional transfer assistance,
initial education, and protection for their early settlement
(currently operated in a total of 25 designated sites across 15 cities
and provinces).
Vice Minister Moon observed volunteers’ work which provided elderly
care and settlement assistance for North Korean defectors suffering
from Alzheimer’s disease and social isolation.
Moon stressed that “it is important for North Korean defectors to
participate in volunteer work in the form of self-help, establish warm
ties with other North Korean defectors, and assist in their
resettlement. The vice minister also expressed his deep gratitude to
the North Korean defectors for volunteering amid their busy lives.
Furthermore, Vice Minister Moon held a meeting with regional
settlement assistance workers to encourage their hard work, and asked
the workers to take a more pivotal role in communication and
coordination among the government, local authorities, and private
organizations ensuring that North Korean defectors in the region can
feel the tangible results of the policies.
