SEOUL - President Yoon Suk Yeol affirmed South Korea’s commitment to protecting North Korean defectors from forced repatriation during the inaugural commemoration of North Korean Defectors' Day at Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday. The President emphasized a diplomatic push to ensure the safety and freedom of defectors residing abroad.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the plight of North Koreans under the regime's oppression cannot be ignored, and safeguarding defectors' rights abroad is a key diplomatic objective. "We will never neglect North Korean people suffering in the North Korean regime," Yoon declared to an audience of about 200 defectors and their families. He stressed that the pursuit of freedom by defectors highlights the transformative power of liberty on individuals' lives.
Yoon reiterated South Korea's resolve to support defectors, announcing plans to enhance resettlement funds, which have remained unchanged since 2005, and to create more employment opportunities through government and private sector incentives, including tax credits for companies hiring defectors. Furthermore, the President mentioned that established defector communities in South Korea would play a crucial role in supporting newly arrived defectors.
The designation of July 14 as North Korean Defectors' Day is part of a broader effort by the Yoon administration to address human rights issues in North Korea, which he described as foundational to the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula. The choice of date marks the anniversary of the law enacted on July 14, 1997, aimed at protecting and supporting the settlement of defectors in South Korea.
Additionally, President Yoon also participated in a ceremony for the "Challengers," the first youth baseball team composed of North Korean defectors in South Korea, sending them off to the United States for friendly events, symbolizing the integration and acceptance of defectors into South Korean society.