South Korea to designate July 14 as ‘North Korean Defectors' Day’



News South Korea to designate July 14 as ‘North Korean Defectors’ Day’ Escapees welcome move to raise awareness about DPRK issues but express concern day could be politicized Ifang Bremer \| Lina Park February 22, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Koreans in Pyongyang \| Image: NK News (Sept. 2015) Seoul will designate July 14 as “North Korean Defectors’ Day,” the Ministry of Unification announced on Wednesday, a move that escapees welcomed while raising concerns that the day could be politicized. The ministry picked July 14 to commemorate the law protecting North Korean defectors and supporting their settlement that went into effect on that day in 1997, unification minister Kim Yung-ho said at an event in Seoul on Wednesday. Kim said the ministry plans to hold a ceremony marking the date and establish a place where escapees can commemorate North Koreans who have died during attempts to flee the DPRK. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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South Korea to designate July 14 as ‘North Korean Defectors’ Day’

Escapees welcome move to raise awareness about DPRK issues but express concern day could be politicized

Ifang Bremer | Lina Park February 22, 2024

South Korea to designate July 14 as ‘North Korean Defectors’ Day’

North Koreans in Pyongyang | Image: NK News (Sept. 2015)

Seoul will designate July 14 as “North Korean Defectors’ Day,” the Ministry of Unification announced on Wednesday, a move that escapees welcomed while raising concerns that the day could be politicized.

The ministry picked July 14 to commemorate the law protecting North Korean defectors and supporting their settlement that went into effect on that day in 1997, unification minister Kim Yung-ho said at an event in Seoul on Wednesday.

Kim said the ministry plans to hold a ceremony marking the date and establish a place where escapees can commemorate North Koreans who have died during attempts to flee the DPRK.

About the Authors

Ifang Bremer

Ifang Bremer is a former Seoul Correspondent at NK News. He has worked on investigations for The Guardian and The Observer and previously wrote features on Korea for Dutch newspaper NRC.

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Lina Park

Lina Park is the Digital Communications and Events Manager at Korea Risk Group. She previously worked at the Business and Finance desk of The Korea Herald and as a news trainee at NK News. Her past research experience includes work on North Korean human rights at HanVoice and South Korea’s foreign relations at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

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