March 29, 2024
Ask A North Korean

What Hanawon doesn’t teach North Korean defectors

Institution gives refugees role models, but skimps on the hardships, discrimination to come

Editor's note: NK News contacted the South Korean Ministry of Unification, which is authorized to speak on behalf of Hanawon, as to whether or not the program has been updated to reflect concerns such as those Ji-Min expresses here. 

"Defectors are educated at Hanawon but the course does not include a lesson on whether they will face discrimination or not," an MoU spokesperson said. "But we have Hanacenter, which is a nationwide government organization that provides help after they leave Hanawon. If they are having a problem they can contact Hanacenter any time of the day."

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