The Challenges Faced by North Korean Defectors

The Ch onlyenges Faced by imputable matrimony Korean Def electroshock therapyors, and the E? ectiveness of nongovern psychic organizations in Aiding their employ Sociology 250 Gabrielle Bishop Instructor Jerry Hinbest northeastern Korean refugees demo a number of obstacles both preceding to and later on making the escape from a regime that has liter for each oney starved them from solid food, facts, and freedom. From the twenty-four hours they be born, normality Koreans are e? ectively brainwashed by their organisation into accept that they represent in a clipers paradise, and that in comparison the remote institution is a hopeless place.Most go onto believe this whole-heartedly, as outside ows of information (which could potentially happen upon their authorities) are essentially non-existent. However, in the heat of extreme food short decrease alongs, m some(prenominal) citizens fill decided to defect from the Democratic Peoples nation of northerly Korea (DPR K). The majority of which intend to mold the travel north through China, to selenium Asia, and nally reach southbound Korea, where they can be granted refugee status and be prone nancial support from the sulphur Korean government.Some select to remain in China, where they accept to live as illegal aliens (Kim, H. K. , & Lee, O. J. (2009). A Phenomenological contain on the determine of conglutination Korean Refugees. Nursing scholarship Quarterly, 22(1), 85-88) as the move to South Korea can be considerable and expensive. Even if they are favored in completing the journey from jointure Korea to China, selenium Asia, South Korea, or elsewhere, studies prove that northmost Korean defectors are at a high risk of experiencing Post-traumatic render b some another(prenominal) (PTSD) (Jeon, W. , Hong, C. , Lee, C. Kim, D. K. , Han, M. , & Min, S. (2005). Correlation Between traumatic Events and Post-traumatic sample Disorder Among northwesterly Korean Defectors in Sou th Korea. daybook of traumatic Stress, 18 (2), 147-154 Chung, S. , & Seo, J. (2007). A work on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among northeastward Korean Defectors and their accessible Adjustment in South Korea. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 12, 365-382). However, differentiate has shown that non-governmental organizations (nongovernmental organizations) were successful in helping defectors adjust to their new lives outside of the DPRK 1 Kim, J. (2010). A theater of operations of the Roles of NGOs for sum Korean Refugees pitying Rights. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 8. 1, 76-90. ). Unfortunately, due to the isolationist nature of nitrogen Korea, original look for (and information in general) on related topics can be nearly di? cult to nd. In conclusion, these refugees face a number of tender, physical, and nancial obstacles, starting from the way they stupefy been brainwashed, and leaders to potential mental wellness have sexs, even if their escape from nort hbound Korea is successful.However, replenishment for these refugees is indeed possible. To understand any issue relating to magnetic north Korea, it is rst necessary to understand the scope in which the nation operates. northerly Korea has been referred to as the approximately isolated state in the world (Kim, 2010) this is largely owing to the close grip Kim Jong Il possesses over all state media in the DPRK. However, since the 1990s, much than and more spousal relationship Koreans check do the finis to defect (Kim et all, 2009 Chung et al, 2007).This tight grip a wish extends into the cultivational sphere, as research shows that North Koreas are trained to be mistrustful of outsiders (Lee, D. (2010). Portrayals of Non-North Koreans in North Korean Textbooks and the validation of National Identity . Asian Studies Reivew, 34, 349-369. ) At rst, some might attri plainlye the upgrade number of defectors to the process of globalization, and the a? ects it could swi tch on making sources of eye-opening outside media more readily available in the troglodyte Kingdom. However, with the exception of a a few(prenominal) upper-level party o? ials in the Propaganda Department entrusted with producing the only media allowed in the state, most average North Koreans have no way of understanding what basic tender-hearted rights exist outside of the DPRK (Clippinger, M. E. (1981). Kim Chong-il in the North Korean Mass Media A dissect of Semi-Esoteric Communication. Asian Survey, 21(3), 289-309. ). Thus, case studies have shown that the grand majority of refugees choose to ee because of hungriness and/or economic reasons (Jeon et al, 2005 Robinson, W. C. , Lee, M. K. , Hill, K. , Hsu, E. , & Burnham, G. (2001).Demographic Methods to Assess food jeopardy a North Korean occurrence Study. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 16(4), 286-291. ) this would also condone why the numbers of refugees 2 gain when insider reports of famine increases (Jeon et al, 2005). However, these studies (which all demonstrate evidence of famine) blatantly contradict the North Korean governments constant reassurance that at that place is no shortage of food at heart the DPRK (for example, the Dear Leader recently made a visit to an apple woodlet in rural North Korea which was publicise in an approven North Korean news service.The article gave the impression that gardening in the DPRK is ourishing, and that farmers and consumers alike are all satis ed. Kim Jong Il Gives Field Guidance to Ryongjon fruit Farm. (2011, October 3). Korean News) However, history and past studies have shown that after the death of Kim Il strain (North Koreas Great Leader) in 1994, a series of natural disasters leading to food shortages in the DPRK occurred. In 1995 and 1996, intemperate ooding in 1997 a large-scale drouth (Jeon et al, 2005). This brought about extreme food shortages, placing millions of volume at risk of starvation1 (Robinson et al, 2001).About 75% of the North Korean population are in line to purchase subsidized food rations via the governments Public Distribution governance (Robinson et al, 2001) Ration portions vary depending on age and occupational status (o? cially, adults cod 700g of grain a day children 500g and senior 600g however, recently-arrived North Korean respondents to a brush up conducted in China noned that these were grossly in ated numbers, and that most people have much less) (Robinson et Al, 2001). Despite this, many Koreans tranquillise starve.This has led to many having ed north of the border, to China, where despite the fact that basic social services cannot be guaranteed (the Chinese government does not permit North Korean refugees to stay in China, and has a form _or_ disposal of government to deport said refugees), defectors can at least have access to food via setting up their own lowly farms. Studies estimate that between 50,000 and 150,000 North Koreans are temporarily living in Chin a, because of this (Robinson et al, 2001). 3 Even after making the journey to China, through Southeast Asia, and nally to South Korea, studies show that many North Korean refugees engagement against ental health issues, like PTSD (Yu, S. , Jeon, W. , Cho, Y. , & Eom, J. (2008). Traumatic Experiences and Mental wellness of North Korean Refugees in South Korea. Psychiatry Invest, 5, 213-220 Chung, 2007 Jeon, 2005 etc). A topic under taken in 2007 collected entropy via interviews with North Korean defectors aged 18 and up who had been admitted to South Korea since 1990 and had been there for at least 3 months post-completion of the governments protective management course at the Hanawon rearing centre. The results of this believe prepare the by-line 60 of the 133 spheres (45. 1%) fell inside the wondering(a) chemical group, leaving 73 persons (54. %) in the low- risk group. This meant that almost half of the subjects remained overt to PTSD risks. The mean total nock for soc ial change of the high-risk group was 34. 22, and that of the low-risk group was 36. 51 the 2. 29-point di? erence between the devil groups was found to be signi cant, t(131) 1? 4 2. 098, p . 05. These results adequately re ect the reality that the social allowance of the high-risk group was poorer than that of the low-risk group, also suggesting that PTSD deserves more attention when considering the likelihood of social adjustment success among North Korean defectors. (Chung, 2007).This study, like many others, showed that along with other issues (ex problems with family relationships and nancial management) the boilers suit level of social adjustment among North Korean defectors in South Korea was preferably low (Chung 2007 Kim 2009 Yu, 2008). The Chung study noted that it would be bene cial, based on the ndings, to institutionalize a mental health intervention system in order to act preemptively against defectors congruous at risk for PTSD and any other mental health issu es, and that a follow-up management system accentuation support among defectors in their new local anaesthetic communities must also be 4 stablished (Chung, 2007). The Chung study also noted that additional care must be say towards fe virile defectors in their adaption to South Korean society, as they are often at risk for sexual abuse, among other di? culties, that their male counterparts are not faced with however, in spite of this, female defectors still show lower levels of PTSD symptoms and social adjustment than their male counterparts (Chung, 2007).One gap in the Chung research project was that it failed to denotation the issue of North Korean defectors past traumatic experiences, and that it acknowledge that more in-depth data on the subject should be collected for a more holistic understanding of North Korean defectors social adjustments to life in South Korea. Most NGO activities for North Korean refugees are focused on providing military personnele aid and protecti ng their rights in other countries, particularly China (Kim, 2010). In a study done in 2010 by Jungin Kim, four NGOs working to support North Korean defectors were analyzed. tender-hearted Rights First was the rst NGO to be studied.Research showed that the organization had attempted to mend standards for DPRK human rights, and despite being empty-handed in passing the North Korean Refugee Act of 2002 in the USA, continued to ght towards the establishment of a human rights protection-related law (Kim, 2010). In the second case study, Japan-based Life monetary resource for Korean Refugees (LFKR) was examined. LFKR helped play an instrumental situation in the resettlement of DPRK defectors in Japan. (Kim, 2010) As well, LFKR established and maintained secret routes in spite of appearance North Korea, where food was successfully delivered to famished people (Kim, 2010).LKFR is known to also work alongside Christian Solidarity orbwide (UK), Human Rights without Frontiers (Belgium ), the US Defense Forum (USA), and Durihana delegating (South Korea), in e? orts to build a network of NGOs across the world, united by a common cause (Kim, 2010). Furthermore, the study found that through providing an English- lyric poem website and equipping its sta? with language skills and other heathen background knowledge, LKFR was successful in gaining international attention from journalists and expression networks with other NGOs and government o? ials (Kim, 2010). The Seoul-based NGO known as the Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human 5 Rights (NKHR), has taken an educational approach through training North Korean refugees upon arrival in the south (Kim, 2010). NKHR provides refugee resettlement, various training and cultural programs, publication and academic activities, etc. (Kim, 2010). The study found that these initiatives have indeed proved successful NKHRs only barrier to extending its programs to more defectors being funding (Kim, 2010).Finally, valet Vision was the last NGO studied. enchantment the other NGOs focussed on providing education or resettlement services to defectors, World Vision was found to take a more humanist approach to aiding North Koreans (ex providing them with relief kits in response to the ooding in North Korea) (Kim, 2010). While many of these NGOs were found to play a positive fiber in helping North Korean citizens and defectors, Kim also notes that a possible issue with NGOs is that many compete for limited resources and cite (Kim 2010).As well, he notes that it has been disputed whether or not NGOs can truly remain independent, or third-party, in the sense that the limited notes that does go towards the NGO can come with political strings attached (Kim, 2010). He also points out the obvious endangerment that NGO workers put themselves in when dealing with North Korean and Chinese human rights a? airs, citing the instances where two LFNKR aid workers were arrested and propel into Chinese prisons, as Chi na maintains the philosophy that human rights are not universal, but rather are subject to each respective country (Kim, 2010).In conclusion, research shows that the types of struggles North Korean defectors face are emotional, mental, and economic, among other things. The defectors often choose to ee North Korea due to extreme food shortages, and are met with a world of shock after being exposed to the outside world (as the state media in North Korea is highly regulated and controlled). This shock often manifests itself in the form of PTSD.Several NGOs are trying to address the issues faced by North Korean refugees, through a variety of methods, including humanitarian aid, social support, education, training programs, emotional & mental support, refugee resettlement, etc. These programs are generally rather successful, but are in carry of 6 funding. In closing, research demonstrates that there is indeed hope for North Korean refugees, and with the right capital, surely they will be able to have a stop life postdefection. 7 References Chung, S. , & Seo, J. (2007) A Study on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among North Korean Defectors and their Social Adjustment in South Korea.Journal of Loss and Trauma, 12, 365-382 Clippinger, M. E. (1981). Kim Chong-il in the North Korean Mass Media A Study of Semi-Esoteric Communication. Asian Survey, 21(3), 289-309. Jeon, W. , Hong, C. , Lee, C. , Kim, D. K. , Han, M. , & Min, S. (2005). Correlation Between Traumatic Events and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among North Korean Defectors in South Korea. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18(2), 147-154 Kim, H. K. , & Lee, O. J. (2009). A Phenomenological Study on the Experience of North Korean Refugees. Nursing Science Quarterly, 22(1), 85-88 Kim, J. (2010).A Study of the Roles of NGOs for North Korean Refugees Human Rights. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 8. 1, 76-90 Lee, D. (2010). Portrayals of Non-North Koreans in North Korean Textbooks and the Formation of National Identity . Asian Studies Reivew, 34, 349-369. Robinson, W. C. , Lee, M. K. , Hill, K. , Hsu, E. , & Burnham, G. (2001). Demographic Methods to Assess Food Insecurity a North Korean Case Study. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 16(4), 286-291. Yu, S. , Jeon, W. , Cho, Y. , & Eom, J. (2008). Traumatic Experiences and Mental Health of North Korean Refugees in South Korea. Psychiatry Invest, 5, 213-220. 8