• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.201-212
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• 2013

This study divides and traces experience courses of families' disorganization and reorganization of North Korean refugees in North Korea, China, and South Korea after settlement respectively, from the course of their escaping North Korea to entering South Korea. Through these results, the study is to propose political implications. Main data for the study were analyzed through a case study as a qualitative study method, targeting eight people from July in 2012 to March in 2013. From the study result, though North Korean refugees seemed to disorganize and leave family relations in the course of escaping North Korea, it was found out that this is not disorganization but a preparatory stage which saves families standing at the crossroads of life and death and makes a chance to live with them someday. In these courses, in order for them to overcome their situations and survive, while repeating disorganization and reorganization of families, they used them as a way of saving themselves and their families. It was discovered that these phenomena always occurred simultaneously.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2015

This paper aims to analyze how the Venture Business Tendency of North Korean refugees affects social adaptation and family health, and to provide proposals for policy making on the issue. For the purpose, we specifically suggest analysis of activation plan that 48 Venture Business North Korean managed Enterprise types, Entrepreneur type, Business type, Gender, Profit etc. As a result of analysis of actual proof, First, The Venture Business North Korean refugees managed need to consult to be technology business professionally because they features to be self-employment than expertise and knowledge basis type. Second, the rate of success of North Korean refugees is researched that female is higher than male. Third, to support Venture Business of North Korean refugees, they need one on one incubating support syspen why they are inexperienced in network, technical skills. Fourth, Venture Business Tendency of North Korean refugees affects social adaptation and family health. Since mid 1990's, North Korean refugees have come to South Korea through China or third countries due to collapsing economy of North Korea. In an effort to help those escaping from North Korea, the Seoul government provided them with a 3-month settlement program. But they have had experienced difficulties in communication, cultural assimilation, and confusion in their value system and identity. For the purpose, one-on-one interview was carried out on 45 North Korean refugees living in Seoul and neighboring cities, and the interviewed group was classified into three categories: single households, single-parent families and families with parents. The study findings demonstrated four policy alternatives to help improve quality of life of North Korean refugees and to help their successful settlemen.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 2015

This study examined positive and negative marital factors on social adaptation to South Korea among North Korean refugees. In terms of previous studies, family variables play an important role in the adaptation to new society among refugees. We analyzed three major marital factors of marriage background, dyadic adjustment, and marital violence. Marital factors consisted of place of birth, place of marriage, dyadic consensus, dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion, emotional violence, physical violence, and sexual violence. We analyzed the data of 295 North Korean refugees who resided in Seoul, Gyeonggi province and Incheon using snowballing sampling. The result indicated that the refugees married to non-Korean partners (including Korean-Chinese, Chinese, or Russian) are more likely to suffer in social adaptation. Place of marriage (whether the couple got married before escaping, during the escape or after living in South Korea) did not have a significant impact. Dyadic satisfaction was helpful in social adaptation, while sexual violence had a negative effect. The findings of this study suggest alternatives for more successful social adaptation by North Korean refugees to South Korea, a need for more services that target married couples and families rather than individuals, and suggestions for the use of counselors who are also North Korean refugees.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2016

This study is to test moderating effects of North Korean Refugees' coping styles in the causal relation between social support and psychological wellbeing and suggest policy implications for helping social adjustment of North Korean Refugees. For this study, 100 North Korean Refugees were sampled and surveyed. The analytical result of this study showed that the degree of psychological wellbeing was highest among the refugees of the entire families migration. Also, this study showed that the causal relationship between social support and psychological wellbeing was not significant, and moderating effects of emotional support and appraisal support were significant, while moderating effects of material support and informative support were not significant. In this study, we suggested some policy implications basing on this analytical results.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the oral hygiene status of children and adolescents from North Korean (NK) refugee families residing in South Korea (SK) and to find ways to improve it. Methods: This study examined 88 children in NK refugee families. Their oral hygiene ability were estimated using the Patient Hygiene Performance (PHP)-index for children. The Independent Samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were conducted on the oral hygiene status according to the characteristics of children of NK refugees, and covariance analysis was conducted by controlling for significant variables in the simple analysis. Statistical significance levels were set at than p<0.05. Results: The overall PHP-index of normal, poor, and severe poor were 14.8%, 5.7%, and 79.5%, respectively. Adjusted for sex, age, country of birth, duration of settlement, covariance analysis was performed to determine the PHP-index according to oral examination. PHP-index was 3.55±1.56 when the oral examination was conducted and 4.26±0.98 when the oral examination was not conducted; this difference was significantly (p=0.022). Conclusions: Children and from NK refugee families have severely poor oral hygiene. Therefore, education to improve the oral hygiene status is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status and dietary behavior of adolescents from North Korean refugee (NKR) families residing in South Korea (SK), who are known to be at a higher risk of malnutrition due to their lower socioeconomic status and facing other psychological challenges. Methods: A total of 178 adolescents (91 males and 87 females) from NKR families were included in the analysis, and their demographic details such as age, birthplace, parental nationality, and duration of their settlement in SK were collected through questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements were also taken to determine their growth and nutritional status according to the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents. The study used the Nutrition Quotient for Korean Adolescents (NQ-A) questionnaire to assess the dietary behavior of the participants. Results: Approximately 11.8% and 10.1% of participants were identified with malnutrition and obesity, respectively. The total mean score for the NQ-A was 50.1. The mean scores for the individual factors of balance, diversity, moderation, environment, and practice were 49.2, 44.7, 43.8, 51.2, and 61.5, respectively. Approximately 47.2% of participants had a low NQ-A grade. However, there was no significant difference in the NQ-A scores according to their nutritional status or duration of time in SK. Conclusions: Adolescents from NKR families exhibited both malnutrition and obesity. However, their dietary behavior, as assessed using the NQ-A, did not vary with their nutritional status. The unique challenges and related dietary behavior of North Korean adolescent refugees should be taken into consideration, when developing targeted strategies for nutritional education and health management programs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 2024

Purpose: The study investigated the relationships between key variables, including the level of parenting knowledge, acculturative stress, depression, and the strengths and difficulties associated with their children's emotions and behavior, among North Korean refugee mothers who faced the challenging task of adapting to Korean society while raising their children. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected from 130 North Korean refugee mothers between September and November 2023. Results: The participants had very limited parenting knowledge, and 82.3% of them scored 21 or higher on the depression scale used in community epidemiological studies. Higher levels of parenting knowledge and lower levels of depression were associated with lower levels of acculturative stress. Moreover, higher levels of depression were associated with more emotional and behavioral difficulties in children. Maternal depression, age, and employment status were identified as factors that influenced emotional and behavioral problems in preschool-aged children. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of providing parent education and mental health support programs for North Korean refugee families in order to improve parents' parenting skills and emotional well-being.