Seoul: The unification ministry will now refer to North Korean defectors as "North Korean-born citizens" to better reflect their status as South Korean nationals with full legal entitlements, officials announced.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has moved away from using terms like "defectors" or "refugees" for North Koreans who leave their home country to settle in South Korea. Instead, he has opted for "bukhyangmin," which translates to people whose hometown is North Korea.
Since the start of the year, the ministry has been using the term in official documents and public communications, encouraging media outlets to adopt the terminology as well. On Thursday, the ministry officially introduced "North Korean-born citizens" as the English equivalent for this new designation.
The term "North Korean defectors" has often been linked to social discrimination, as it emphasizes their North Korean origins. However, once they settle in South Korea, they are recognized as citizens with full rights. The new term, "North Korean-born citizens," is intended to underline that these individuals, although born in North Korea, are South Korean citizens who are equally protected under the constitutional and legal system.