North Korean Defectors' Day
| North Korean Defectors' Day | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | South Korea |
| Type | Cultural |
| Observances | Commemoration of North Korean defectors in South Korea |
| Date | July 14 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | July 14, 2024 |
| Started by | Yoon Suk Yeol |
North Korean Defectors' Day (Korean: 북한이탈주민의 날; Hanja: 北韓離脫住民의 날; RR: Bukanitaljuminui nal) is a holiday celebrated on July 14 in South Korea to commemorate North Korean defectors that have resettled there. Established in 2024, it is celebrated with art, music, food, and other symbols of both North Korean and South Korean culture.
History
[edit]The holiday was established in 2024 by South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to commemorate the twenty-seventh anniversary of the North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act, which had been enacted in 1997.[1][2] There are over 34,000 defectors from North Korea living in South Korea,[3][4] and the holiday was intended to be representative of Yoon's policies surrounding Korean reunification.[1] Yoon stated that Korean unification was dependent on human rights advancements in North Korea, and that North Koreans should be able to successfully integrate into South Korean society.[1]
North Korean defectors often face difficulty integrating into South Korean culture due to factors such as culture shock and hostility from South Koreans towards defectors.[3][5] North Korean defectors in South Korea face more than double the national rate of unemployment.[3] The establishment of North Korean Defectors' Day was seen as an opportunity to create a more welcoming environment for North Koreans in the South,[1] although some analysts have criticized the initiative, as it could unintentionally create the opposite effect by reminding North Koreans that they are considered "outsiders" by society.[2]
The first North Korean Defectors' Day festival was held in Seoul on July 14, 2024, and was attended mostly by North Korean defectors, although some South Koreans attended as well.[3][6] The festival included performances of North Korean music, as well as displays of North Korean items brought to South Korea by defectors.[3][6] Defector entrepreneurs also sold goods such as liquor, clothing, North Korean snacks, and dog treats.[6] Panel discussions by defectors were held, as was an exhibition illustrating life in North Korea.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Chestnut Greitens, Sheena (8 July 2024). "What's Behind South Korea's New Defectors' Day Holiday?". carnegieendowment.org. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b Lee, Jia (17 April 2024). "By honoring defectors is South Korea unintentionally erecting a barrier to integration?". NK Insider. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Seo, Yoonjung; Valerio, Mike; Yeung, Jessie (15 July 2024). "North Korean fashion, drums, and jubilation: Here's how South Koreans celebrated the first-ever Defectors' Day". cnn.com. CNN. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Policy on North Korean Defectors". 통일부. Ministry of Unification. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b Lim, Yun Suk; Tang, Louisa (16 July 2024). "As South Korea marks its first North Korean Defectors' Day, some still struggle to adapt". CNA. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "'I feel proud': Seoul celebrates North Korean escapees with first Defectors' Day". NK News. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.