Democratic Council for Korean Unification Hwaseong City Chapter Holds First North Korean Defector Commemoration Day Memorial Service and Cultural Tour

[Suwon Ilbo=Lee Su-won] The Democratic Council for Korean Unification (hereinafter DCKU) Hwaseong City Chapter held a memorial service and cultural tour on the 12th to commemorate the "First North Korean Defector Commemoration Day (July 14)."

On the day, approximately 80 people including North Korean defectors residing in Hwaseong City and DCKU advisors visited the Peace Bell and Modern Korean History Museum at Imjingak in Paju City, taking time to resolve their longing for family and hometown while understanding South Korean society as community members in the face of the pain of divided history and national security.

Meanwhile, the city is promoting various projects including settlement support programs for North Korean defectors, operational support for regional cooperation councils for North Korean defector assistance, and subsidy support for certificate acquisition courses to ensure that North Korean defectors can settle into the local community without marginalization.

Cheon Young-taek, chairperson of the DCKU Hwaseong City Chapter, said, "Nearly 50 percent of all North Korean defectors in southern Gyeonggi Province, approximately 1,350 people, reside in Hwaseong City," and added, "For the successful settlement of North Korean defectors, the DCKU Hwaseong City Chapter will actively support them as warm neighbors to residents."

Oh Hyun-moon, head of Hwaseong City's Communication and Autonomous Governance Division, said, "We hope that this event will increase interest in human rights protection and settlement support for North Korean defectors," and added, "We will seek more comprehensive support measures together with relevant agencies and the local community to realize a warm community for North Korean defectors."