Sudden unification could cause 3.65 mln N. Koreans to enter S. Korea: report

Yonhap News ^ | 01/24/12

[TigerLikesRooster]

2012/01/24 14:32 KST

Sudden unification could cause 3.65 mln N. Koreans to enter S. Korea: report

SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- Sudden unification between South and North Korea could cause a flood of refugees across the land border that could rock the local labor market, a business organization said Tuesday.

A report by the Korea Employers Federation (KEF) predicted that if the North Korean regime collapsed suddenly, up to 3.65 million people from the communist country may cross over into capitalist South Korea.

"Even under a conservative estimate, up to 1.61 million North Koreans may move to South Korea, mainly because of the huge difference in wages and employment opportunities," the KEF said.

It said such a wholesale movement of people could seriously disrupt the local labor market and cause other social problems.

"North Koreans who migrate into South Korea will probably find work as menial laborers and take over positions held by foreign migrant workers," the federation said.

There may be some 470,000 jobs that North Korean workers may be able to fill immediately in case the two Koreas unify, although exact numbers are hard to predict, it added.

The federation, representing the interest of entrepreneurs, said government policymakers should carefully look at the confusion caused in the aftermath of Germany's unification to prevent similar developments taking place on the Korean Peninsula.

They stressed that measures must be taken to limit wage hikes in North Korea after unification so it does not endanger sustained economic growth.

[mkboyce]

The gulf between North and South Korea is an ocean compared to the river that divided East and West Germany.

[mkboyce]

The gulf between North and South Korea is an ocean compared to the river that divided East and West Germany.

[FreedomPoster]

>>Meanwhile, in Egypt, United States Citizens can’t leave, t

I’ve been casually following goings-on in Egypt, but hadn’t heard that one. Link?

[Drew68]

That was a fascinating process. In just 44 years, Germany had become two separate peoples who looked on each other with distrust and even spoke with distinctly different accents. Given the atrocities of North Korea, I'd expect the division will be even more pronounced.

I can only imagine the shock when the first North Koreans cross over and see the standard of living in South Korea. It will be as though they've stepped on a different planet.

[SpaceBar]

Excellent post.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks TigerLikesRooster.