SEOUL - In a strong commitment to human rights, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed on Sunday to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors residing abroad. This pledge was made during the inaugural commemoration of North Korean Defectors' Day at Cheong Wa Dae, highlighting the government's dedication to the protection and integration of defectors into South Korean society.
According to Yonhap News Agency, addressing approximately 200 defectors and their family members, emphasized the transformative power of freedom and its role in changing the fates of individuals who flee from the oppressive North Korean regime. "We will never neglect North Korean people suffering in the North Korean regime," he stated, asserting that safeguarding the rights and freedoms of North Korean defectors is a cornerstone of peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula.
President Yoon outlined a series of measures aimed at enhancing the support system for North Korean defectors. Notably, he promised a significant increase in the resettlement funds, which have not been raised since 2005, and announced plans for both central and regional governments as well as state-run institutions to employ more defectors. Additionally, private companies hiring defectors will receive tax credits and other incentives to encourage their integration into the workforce.
The South Korean government also plans to bolster community support networks for North Korean defectors, enabling those who have settled earlier to assist newcomers. This initiative reflects a broader strategy to facilitate the smooth assimilation of defectors into South Korean society, as articulated by President Yoon during a Cabinet meeting on January 16, when he instructed the unification ministry to designate a special day to recognize the defectors as South Korean citizens under the Constitution.
The chosen date of July 14 commemorates the enactment of the law on the protection and support for the settlement of North Korean defectors, underscoring the significance of this day in South Korea's legislative history and its ongoing commitment to human rights and unification efforts.