SEOUL — A record number of North Korean defectors are now working in South Korea’s public sector, signaling progress in efforts to help integrate those fleeing the North’s repressive regime.
According to the Ministry of Unification, 211 defectors held public sector jobs by the end of 2024, an increase of 17 from the previous year and the highest total since defectors began entering public service roles in earnest in 2010.
The South Korean government has expanded support for defectors, who often arrive with few resources and face unemployment, social isolation and trauma from life under Kim Jong Un’s rule.
“There’s an increasing need to create more pathways for defectors to work in public service, allowing them not only to rebuild their lives but to take part in shaping national policies,” the ministry said in a statement.
In recent years, Seoul has rolled out integration programs, including financial incentives for companies hiring defectors, tax breaks and community services. Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Wednesday shared a meal with several defectors working in public roles, underscoring the government’s commitment to recognizing their contributions.
Roughly 30,000 North Korean defectors currently live in South Korea, though new arrivals have dropped sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic triggered tighter border controls. Before 2020, more than 1,000 North Koreans typically made the dangerous journey south each year.
Defectors often recount harrowing stories of forced labor, famine and political persecution. Many risk imprisonment or torture if caught attempting to escape, according to human rights groups.
Some defectors have gone on to hold prominent roles in South Korean society. Tae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat, became the first defector elected to the National Assembly in 2020 and now leads the Presidential Advisory Council on Unification—the highest-ranking government post ever held by a defector.
While many defectors continue to face barriers to social acceptance and mental health challenges, the rise in public sector employment represents a step toward a more inclusive and representative South Korea.
