On Monday, Unification Media Group and Daily NK concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the New Korean Peninsula Baseball Association (NKPBA) with a view to support the settlement of young North Korean defectors in South Korea.
The two sides agreed to cooperate on the successful settlement of young defectors in South Korea, the promotion of activities conducted by the two organizations (including cooperative exchanges with external organizations), along with other matters jointly decided by the two organizations.
By showing the public how North Korean defectors are settling in South Korea through sports, the agreement is expected to bring in various forms of support and aid to help young defectors better adjust to life in South Korean society.
The two sides expect that the agreement, which aims to highlight cases in which defectors ease into life in South Korea through sports-related activities, will help bring in a diverse range of assistance and support young defectors need to adjust to life in the society.
The NKPBA was registered as a non-profit organization through the Ministry of Unification last July. It is the first organization in South Korea to support the baseball-related activities of North Korean defectors. In fact, of the around 450 organizations registered with the Ministry of Unification, it is the only organization whose main focus is providing opportunities for North Korean defectors to learn and play baseball.
In NKPBA’s early days, the organization created a youth baseball team for high school students at Yeomyung School, an alternative school for North Korean defectors. After that, NKPBA conducted online training, ultimately establishing three youth baseball teams made up of young North Korean defectors. In March of last year, NKPBA also created an amateur baseball team made up of defectors.
“I think it is very meaningful for North Korean defectors, especially young people, to understand their new world through baseball,” Lee Kwang-baek, the president of Unification Media Group and Daily NK, said. “They will be able to receive more help and support if even more people can see them settle in the society through baseball.
“Through this MOU, the role of Daily NK and the Unification Media Group will be to document and promote the activities of the group to the public,” he continued, adding, “We will work hard to ensure a wide range of cooperation is achieved through this agreement.”
Kim Hyon, the director of the NKPBA, said: “Working alone, an organization has limitations in expanding and promoting its current activities. I believe that cooperation with the Unification Media Group and Daily NK will significantly help to overcome such issues given they are the foremost experts on North Korea, the state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula, and the defector community.”
“Through this MOU, I look forward to partnering with the Unification Media Group and Daily NK in a way that goes beyond the simple relationship between an organization and a media outlet,” Kim continued, adding, “I hope to understand and receive guidance on the planning and development aspects for the organization.”
Translated by Gabriela Bernal
Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
