Korea: School For NK Defectors, Privately Run, Offers Oasis of Warmth

Korea Times via www.freenorthkorea.net ^ | 01/24/04 | Kim Tae-jong

[TigerLikesRooster]

School For NK Defectors, Privately Run, Offers Oasis of Warmth

(Korea Times)

Photo by Kim Hyun-tae Defectors aren’t completely alone when they arrive in South Korea. Cho Myong-suk runs a school to help ease the transition into a capitalist society, despite not receiving any government support.

Life in South Made a Little Easier With Help of Friends

by Kim Tae-jong

The issue of how best to deal with North Korean defectors after their arrival and how to ensure they become productive members of society is definitely complex. Fortunately there are people out there trying to do just that. ``Our ultimate goal is to see young North Korean defectors living together with South Koreans in a united Korea without having to suffer from ideological problems. So, now I’m working hard to give them a chance to prepare for it,’’ said Cho Myong-suk, the 34-year-old principal of a privately run school for young defectors from North Korea.

Through the school Cho helps young defectors adjust to life in South Korea and teaches them how they can help all Koreans come closer together after reunification.

Called ``Chayuto Hakkyo’’ (School of Free Space) in Korean, whose English name is ``Unification School,’’ the classes are held in a shabby basement room in Daerim, southern Seoul. The school opened last January with one young defector but word has gotten around within the small North Korean community and enrollment is up to 60 students, all around the age of 20. Classes are normally held in the evening with breaks at the same time as regular school winter and summer vacations.

However one of the difficulties the school continually faces is a lack of funding. With no government support, the school depends largely on private donations or support from Christian churches that Cho personally contacts. As the number of students increases, she is struggling to meet the costs of providing all the students a proper educational opportunity.

Still, the students seem very happy with what they learn at the school. Most have had a difficult time in adjusting to their new lives in South Korea, especially in schools. Often the students have studied in substandard educational systems in North Korea or been unable to attend school at all.

Another factor for the difficulties is that many of the defectors’ formative years were occupied by fighting for survival in North Korea or avoiding capture a refugee in China. Adolescence is a critical period for youths in finding their own identity and most students have some emotional problems stemming from their years of desolation.

A year after opening the school, Cho knows better than most what is required for the defectors to join South Korean society and contribute as well. She is disappointed with the current educational system for defectors in South Korea, saying: ``Even though many North Koreans have fled North Korea, the number of young defectors in South Korea is still small. So the government doesn’t try very hard to help them.’’

Having worked with defectors since 1996, Cho has valuable insight into how to deal with the issue. In her opinion a partnership between the government and the private sector would best meet the needs of the defectors and get the best results.

``What will the government do to bring together the people of both nations after reunification?'' Cho asked. ``Through trials and errors now, we could at least learn something that would be very helpful. But the problem is the government never tries anything.’’

Many young defectors arrive here alone and must try to fit into a new educational system while also handling their own living costs, The government provides a living allowance but they really don’t teach North Koreans, with little if any concept of money, how to manage their funds.

``Helping young defectors live together with South Koreans will be a good investment for building a harmonized society after reunification,'' Cho explained. ``But before that, we should provide them a transition stage to prepare them for getting used to a totally different world.’’

She also emphasized that all Koreans should fill the historical and cultural gap between North and South Korea caused by 50 years of separation and animosity, which the students struggle to deal with after arriving here. She added that through teaching them how to overcome the difficulties, we could also learn how to cope with the confusion that will surely follow reunification.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[AmericanInTokyo]

On my next trip to Daerim, S. Korea, I may just well look up some of these people. Fascinating. Thanks.

[Mamzelle]

I'm glad to hear there are some Koreans who take some thought and concern for refugees, rather than expecting the US to handle the problem. Japan ought to pitch in as well, considering their vital interests in stabilizing the Koreas.

[OahuBreeze]

``What will the government do to bring together the people of both nations after reunification?'' Cho asked. ``Through trials and errors now, we could at least learn something that would be very helpful. But the problem is the government never tries anything.’’

Au contraire!!! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is receiving is doing their own cultural indoctrinations:

Foreign Ministry to Offer Officials Monthly Lectures on Culture

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said Saturday it will provide special art lectures for its officials this year in an effort to enhance their cultural diplomacy skills. "Nowadays, the direction of diplomacy is moving from security matters towards cultural areas, which accentuates the importance of enhancing the ability of officials to promote their cultural assets to their foreign counterparts," said Park Heung-shin, director general of the ministry's cultural affairs bureau. "It is the time for (South Korea) to build diplomatic relations befitting its international standing as the 12th most powerful country," he added. The courses, to be given once a month during lunchtime, will cover painting, architecture, aesthetics as well as contemporary literature and films. The first lecture, titled "Understanding the Fine Arts," will be held next Friday at the ministry in Sejongno, central Seoul. Sandwiches and drinks will be provided free for participants, ministry officials said.

Yonhap

:) OahuB

[TigerLikesRooster]

enough money to buy the world, military nobody ever dare to mess with. If a country has the two, everybody wants to know your culture better. No need to heavy promotion of your culture to deaf ears.:)

[OahuBreeze]

Incidentally, here's another one from today

N. Korea Says National Spirit Is Safeguard Against 'Imperialists'
North Korea said Monday it will cling to "the spirit of the nation" in order to prevent the cultural intrusion from "foreign imperialists" harming its sovereignty. Radio Pyongyang said in a commentary that "Imperialists' ploys to wear down the original spirit of (the Korean) people have been strengthened... By countering such ploys and strictly hanging onto the national spirit, we can find the key to keep our sovereign power intact." The state-run broadcaster stopped short of naming the imperialists or defining the nature of their intrusion. It said the country would have to embrace and enhance the traditions of its people, which will function as a barricade against the inflow of foreign trends, as well as ideological values. If not, people will lose their sovereignty and, ultimately, their existence, the broadcaster said. "If people could not maintain their originality and let imperialists' thoughts and culture into them, they could become mentally disabled from the loss of their own spirit," it said.

Yonhap