We will listen to the voices of North Korean defectors more

Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun visits the North Seoul Hana Center (November 3)

On November 3, Unification Vice Minister Moon Seoung-hyun visited the Hana Center in Northern Seoul* to observe participation programs for North Korean defectors and gather the opinions of the hands-on workers.

* Hana Center: An integrated safety assistance center that serves as a regional settlement hub by networking with related organizations for all North Korean defectors who require regional transfer assistance, initial education, and protection for their early settlement (currently operated in a total of 25 designated sites across 15 cities and provinces).

Vice Minister Moon observed volunteers’ work which provided elderly care and settlement assistance for North Korean defectors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and social isolation.

Moon stressed that “it is important for North Korean defectors to participate in volunteer work in the form of self-help, establish warm ties with other North Korean defectors, and assist in their resettlement. The vice minister also expressed his deep gratitude to the North Korean defectors for volunteering amid their busy lives.

Furthermore, Vice Minister Moon held a meeting with regional settlement assistance workers to encourage their hard work, and asked the workers to take a more pivotal role in communication and coordination among the government, local authorities, and private organizations ensuring that North Korean defectors in the region can feel the tangible results of the policies.