North Korean defectors have a huge role to
play in the process of moving from a divided to a unified Korea, according to Kim
Jung Tae, former director of the South Korean defector resettlement center Hanawon.
Kim told a seminar held by Daily NK at the
Press Center in Seoul on June 17th, “When defectors are able to settle
in South Korean society, they establish a settlement model for other
defectors, foster a sense of trust among South Korean citizens and cultivate
positive feelings about the direction in which South Korean society is headed.”
However, he warned that there is a lot of
work to be done if the defector community is to fulfill its immense potential.
“Defectors themselves need to be determined
and seek to emerge as leaders for the era of unification,” Kim asserted. “They
need to be aware that this is their issue, their problem, and go back to the basics.
They must start by adopting the posture of wanting to make changes, starting immediately
with the smaller ones.”
“By becoming leaders for the era of
unification, defectors can play the role of ‘litmus test’ for the societal
integration of the people of South and North Korea,” he went on. “They can use their knowledge of both the North and South Korean systems, and play a decisive
role in fostering the civic awareness of the North Korean people in the
new era.”
Defector Kim Young Hee, who heads the North
Korea economy team for the Korea Finance Corporation (KOFC), spoke as a
discussant about the role of defectors during unification, adding that: “Defectors
need to send a positive message to both South and North Korean citizens about unification.
They also need to give information on the current state of North Korea and
contribute to developing North Korea to a level suitable for a unification
environment.”
