By Nabilah Saleh
KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- South Korea marked a significant milestone on Sunday with the celebration of the first-ever "North Korean Defectors' Day," a national commemorative day recognising the legal and social advancements for North Korean defectors.
Official data revealed that the number of North Korean defectors in South Korea reached more than 34,000 by the end of 2023. The day coincides with the enactment of the "North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act," a key legislation facilitating the integration of defectors into South Korean society.
Lee Young Hyun, the first North Korean defector to become a lawyer and a prominent advocate for defectors’ rights, shared his thoughts with Bernama.
"The defector community has warmly received the designation of this day, which is viewed as a testament to South Korea's commitment to human rights and peaceful unification," Lee stated.
Lee highlighted the contrast between the North Korean regime’s stance on a two-state Korea and the enduring perception among North Korean residents of a shared ethnicity with South Koreans.
"This day underscores the South Korean government’s effort to differentiate the North Korean regime from its people and to improve their human rights conditions," he explained.
“Defectors abroad, who are constitutionally South Korean citizens, deserve protection. Unlike North Korea, which views the South and North as separate states, we emphasise our special relationship and aim for peaceful unification," Lee added.
He also called on the international community and the South Korean government to use "North Korean Defectors’ Day" to spotlight the human rights challenges faced by defectors abroad and to advocate against forced repatriation.
The inaugural celebration included a memorial ceremony and activities honoring defectors who lost their lives during escape attempts, reflecting the South Korean Ministry of Unification's dedication to the cause.
“This day is an opportunity for the 34,121 defectors to reflect on their crucial role in advancing Korean Peninsula unification efforts,” said Lee. He expressed hope that this recognition would inspire further endeavours towards unification through democratic means.
The establishment of this holiday by President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration marks the twenty-seventh anniversary of the North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act, underscoring the ongoing commitment to the defector community in South Korea.
-- BERNAMA
