Posted on 05/09/2006 6:12:59 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Many N.Koreans Would Choose U.S. Over South: Poll
Signs that the U.S. is opening its doors to refugees from North Korea, starting with a group of six who found asylum there Saturday, suggest defectors may soon be able to choose whether to go to America or South Korea, with many expected to pick the former option.
A survey conducted by the Chosun Ilbo on Monday among 100 North Korean refugees who settled in South Korea found that 50 would go to the U.S. given a choice and 46 South Korea. The others were not sure.
Of those who chose the U.S., 22 said they were unhappy with the South Korean government’s North Korea policy. "Because I hate Kim Jong-il I risked my life to come all the way here,” one said. “What is this nonsense? It's gotten to the point where you can't tell the difference between North and South Korea. The government's policy on North Korea is wrong."
Fifteen respondents said the U.S. was a land of opportunity. “The U.S. has abundant material and cultural wealth, and there is much freedom there," one said. "Sure, there will be some difficulties to overcome, but the U.S. is the country with more possibilities."
Six cited discrimination against North Korean defectors in South Korea as their reason, three chose the U.S. because there is more freedom there, two said that they had relatives in America, and two said the political situation in South Korea was “unstable.”
Of those who chose South Korea, 44 said that it would be better to live with people of the same race using the same language.
But one defector said, "I think living with people of the same race is better. Even if those who go to the U.S. have prepared themselves, settling down there won't be easy." Another respondent said, “Even though I dislike the administration's North Korea policy, Korea is my motherland. It's easy to communicate, and the culture is the same, and with the emotions being the same, Korea seems better.”
Those who preferred the U.S. had on average lived in South Korea for 6.7 years, while those that preferred South Korea had lived here for 7.3 years. That suggests time spent here is not a major factor in the decision.
Ping!
America.
Still the shining city on a hill for millions.
Guess they don't appreciate what communist appeasers the south has become.
Like I said.. the North has openings for leftist "settlers". Maybe we could ship our leftists there as they seem to want N. Korea's policies enacted in the US.
What do South Korea and American Public Schools have in common? The longer you stay in both, the more you want out.
They'll make better immigrants than the Mexicans and vote Republican too.
Note to Carl Rove: one aspect of winning the debate over immigration in the media is to emphasize importing people from nations wracked by socialsim. Democrats want to import voters who'll vote for their candidates; we can play that game too while telling the illegals to go home.
" They'll make better immigrants than the Mexicans and vote Republican too. "
You beat me to it , but I would have emphasized most illegal immigrants from Mexico and elsewhere in Central and South America .
The NK also know that the SK may talk one way, but they don't want any NKers in SK. SK actually thinks it's the duty of the US to take in their brethren to the north, but those in the US have no idea what insular bigots SKoreans truly are.
So much for Ahmadinejad claim that everyone hates the US
Young South Koreans are weird. I think they're very, very different from previous generations....They talk very passionately about their brothers in the North on a political level, but when it comes to actually accepting freedom-loving defectors, then it's something different.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.