Experiences of Women Who Left North Korea and Settled in South Korea

초록

This qualitative case study conducted an in-depth exploration of the resettlement experiences of married North Korean female defectors in South Korea.Data collection was conducted from October 2024 to January 2025. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with three married women selected through purposive snowball sampling, and the data were analyzed following a procedure of case conceptualization, categorization of similar patterns, and interpretation of categories. The participants escaped from crises where their right to survival was deprived, having experienced human rights violations such as human trafficking and forced marriage during the defection process. Furthermore, they manifested psychological distress during their resettlement in South Korea due to prejudice, disdain, and dire economic conditions. Accordingly, this study suggests that gender-sensitive long-term resettlement support, stigma mitigation, and the expansion of tailored employment and educational opportunities are essential for the social integration and improvement of the quality of life of female migrants.

키워드