• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.2840-2852
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• 2010

The number of North Korean refugees entering South Korea since the mid 1990s has increased continuously and recently the number has reached 2 million people, which is expected to continue to rise. In the meantime, the government of South Korea has been developing various means to help the North Korean refugees take part in our society and to increase their self-reliance. In this study, improvements were made to systems where North Korean national qualifications are made eligible for use in South Korea, to help them better adapt to our society. The research conducted a Delphi survey of 70 professional qualified workers, training specialists, qualified professionals, researchers and government agents, and 6 interviews were carried out to North Korean refugees and qualified judges. The results complement the current system, in terms of eligibility qualification procedures, where the department's role in its qualification procedure is enhanced and practical experiences are added to the procedure.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.231-238
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the factors that could affect the health-promoting behaviors of North Korean adolescent refugees residing in South Korea. Methods: Questions about their sociodemographic variables, subjective health status, healthy living habits, and health-promoting behaviors were asked. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in religion (t=2.30, p<0.05), having family members in South Korea (t=2.02, p<0.05), and subjective health status (t=4.96, p<0.01). Scores on health-responsible behaviors were higher with higher age (t=2.90, p<0.01) and for subjects without family or friends (t=2.43, p<0.05). Higher physical-activity behaviors were observed in males (t=3.32, p<0.01), in those with better subjective health status (t=3.46, p<0.05) and lower body mas index (t=3.48, p<0.05), and in smokers (t=3.17, p<0.01). Nutritional behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=2.17, p<0.05). Spiritual growth behaviors were higher in those who followed a religion (t=4.21, p<0.001), had no family in South Korea (t=2.04, p<0.05), and had higher subjective health status (t=5.74, p<0.01). Scores on interpersonal relationships and stress-management behaviors were higher for those with higher subjective health status. A multiple regression analysis showed greater effects on health-promoting behaviors when subjective health status was better. Older people and non-smokers exhibited more health-responsible behaviors, while more physical-activity behaviors and spiritual growth activities were observed when subjective health status was better. Interpersonal relationship behaviors had positive effects on those with good subjective heath status and on non-smokers. Conclusions: Based on the results of the current study, an alternative was suggested for promoting health in North Korean adolescent refugees.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-60
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• 2013

Objectives : The number of North Korean refugees is remarkably increasing nowadays and there are many social and cultural issues related to their settlements in Korea. Stereotyping of group is generally unique and has influences on emotions and behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among stereotyping, emotion and service behavior of South Korean dentist towards North Korean refugee. Methods : Questionnaires for stereotyping, emotions and service behaviors were devised based on previous researches. Two-hundred and eighteen Korean dentists were randomly chosen and questionnaires were distributed. Correlation analysis, reliability analysis and primary component analysis were performed. Student t-test and one-way ANOVA were done to elucidate differences according to demographic factors. To examine the relationship among constructs, regression analysis was performed. Results : Stereotyping, emotions, and service behaviors are significantly related each other construct. South Korean dentists' stereotyping and emotions toward North Korean refugees are significantly different from those toward South Korean but service behavioral intentions were not different according to any demographic factor. Conclusions : The results imply that more contacts and education system are necessary to South Korean dentists to change their negative stereotyping and emotions toward North Korean refugees although their service behaviors are not affected at the moment.

• 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.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.381-393
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• 2019

This study aimed to develop an educational program on cervical cancer prevention and human papillomavirus (HPV) for female North Korean refugees and to assess the effect of the program. This study used a nonequivalent control group with a pretest-posttest design. The participants were 42 female North Korean refugees in their 20s residing in South Korea. Measurements included cervical cancer knowledge, HPV knowledge, attitude toward HPV vaccination, and intention for HPV vaccination. Statistically significant differences emerged in levels of cervical cancer knowledge (U = 40.00, p < .001), HPV knowledge (U = 4.50, p < .001), and attitude toward HPV vaccination (U = 128.00, p = .013) between the experimental and control group. The educational program is an effective nursing intervention to improve cervical cancer knowledge, HPV knowledge, and attitude toward HPV vaccination of female North Korean refugees. Stakeholders must work to establish health policies to reduce health disparities between South and North Korean women to prepare for unification.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.159-169
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze research trends and find whether Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) of refugees could affect structural or functional changes of brains of those under MRI, focusing on volumes, functional connectivities, and metabolites. Methods: A literature search was done using PubMed, Embase, RISS, and KMBase to identify studies that matched our research purpose. A total of eight studies were identified using Prisma flow diagram by two reviewers independently. Results: Eight studies were identified. Three studies were on North Korean defectors as subjects. The number of studies that observed structural changes, functional changes, and metabolite changes in brains was 2, 5, and 2, respectively. Although each study observed various parts of the brain, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was observed commonly in three studies. The PTSD group showed reduction of ACC volume and N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) metabolite in ACC compared to the non- PTSD group. When exposed to negative stimuli, the PTSD group showed higher neural activity than the non-PTSD group, but not vice versa. Conclusion: ACC showed significant difference in volume, neural activity, and NAA metabolite between the PTSD and the non-PTSD group, resulting in significant differences in structural changes, functional changes, metabolite changes, respectively. This study showed the need for conducting more research using various biomarkers to clarify the relationship between PTSD of refugees and their brain changes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2006

Background : North Korea's economic and public health problems began in the early 1990s as a result of the gradual loss of economic support from its communist allies, combined with an inordinate number of natural disasters. The decline in public health has increased the incidence of tuberculosis in North Koreans and refugees. This study investigated tuberculosis situation in North Korean refugees in order to prepare for the future impact of tuberculosis control in Korea. Material and Methods : From 2001 to 2005, tuberculosis patients among North Korean refugees who were diagnosed before or after arriving in South Korea, based on the official records of OO hospital, were enrolled in this study. The demographic and clinical data of the cases were evaluated retrospectively. Results : A total of 42 TB cases were reviewed during the study period. Of these, 37 (88.1%) cases were pulmonary TB. based on the cases identified among the number of North Korean refugees' arriving each year, the annual incidence of pulmonary TB were 900 per 100,000 in 2004, 700 in 2003, The number of smear-positive patients was 20 (47.6%) and the number of culture-positive patients was 18 (42.9%). Of the M. tuberculosis isolates, 2 cases were found to be susceptible to all anti-TB drugs available, 4 were resistant to isoniazid, and 3 were multi-drug resistant. Conclusion : The prevalence of pulmonary TB in North Korean Refugees is high. In addition, North Korean refugees suffer from more severe tuberculosis in bacteriological and radiological aspects.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-18
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this survey was to investigate the health status (food intake, exercise, smoking, drinking, stress, social support) of North Korean Refugees in Gwangju metropolitan city and Jeonnam province. Method : Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from 61 North Korean Refugees from March 20 to April 20, 2005. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS win 12.0 programs. Results: In current health status, 42.7% of the subjects were in poor health. In exercise status, 32.8% of the subjects practiced exercise regular basis but only 13.1% did it 3-4 times per week. In smoking status, 26.2% of the subjects were current smokers and 81% were nicotine dependent. In drinking status, 37.7% of the subjects were current drinkers, 48% were problematic and 17% were alcohol dependent. In stress status, 42.7% of the subjects were in psycho-emotional, 49.2% in physical and 19.6% in behavioral stress. The mean score of social support was 24 out of 54 points showing a little low relatively. Conclusion : These findings showed that the health conditions of Saeteomins were poor relatively. Therefore, health care programs should be started for these Saeteomins in order to improve their health status.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2010

The number of North Korean refugees entering South Korea is continuously increasing. North Korean speakers show significant differences in vowel and consonant phonetics, length of vowels, and the rhythm and intonation of sentences. The object of this research was to examine the effectiveness of a speech intervention program for North Korean refugees using visual feedback through acoustical analysis for intonation. The subjects were three adults with no speech disabilities who had been in South Korea for less than five years. They had not received any prior treatment for inflection change. The program was set in a discourse situation and used Praat to evaluate intonation and provide visual feedback as demonstrating proper intonation changes through pitch contour. The results after intervention are as follows. First, intonation was significantly improved according to a 5-point subjective evaluation scale. Second, the pitch contour was similar to the contour of standard South Korean pronunciation. The subjects were very satisfied with this initial treatment and showed a high level of motivation. In subsequent study, the development of intervention and the comparison of interventions will be needed as well.

• 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.