Seoul, South Korea - A significant portion of North Korean defectors residing in Seoul are facing financial challenges, according to a recent report by a local think tank. The Seoul Institute, a research center established by the Seoul city government, released these findings based on a survey and analysis of residential data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The survey, conducted by The Seoul Institute from December 15, 2022, to January 16, 2023, and using data from the Ministry of Unification, revealed that 20.6 percent of the 31,362 North Korean defectors in South Korea live in the capital. Of these, a notable 69.4 percent reported difficulties in financial self-sufficiency over the past year. The report further indicated that 37.7 percent were recipients of the government's basic living subsidies, and 58.7 percent were surviving on a monthly living cost of under 1 million won (US$769.80). Additionally, only 5.7 percent of the respondents owned a home, while 46.3 percent were living in government rental homes. The most common challenges faced by the defectors included saving money, building assets, dealing with social stigma and discrimination, and finding income-generating opportunities. Despite these hardships, a high percentage (90.4 percent) expressed a strong willingness to continue living in Seoul for the next decade.