In publishing this book, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation wants to increase awareness for the current situation of the North Korean refugees in South Korea. Their successful integration serves as an important step towards peaceful unification. As the number of North Korean refugees in South Korea is steadily increasing, necessary measures have to be taken.
In the first chapter of the publication, North Korean refugees describe their lives in North Korea, the process and reason of defection and their challenges in adapting to the South Korean society as well as their expectations for the future. In the second chapter, experts analyze governmental and nongovernmental integration initiatives for North Korean refugees in South Korea. While doing this, the authors share their personal as well as professional experience in participating in this integration process and paint a vision for mutual understanding and future unification.

※ A Report on North Korean Refugees from a German Perspective
The biggest challenge for saeteomins upon arrival in South Korea seems to be adapting to the new political and economic environment. However, language barriers, differences in education and lack of knowledge of new technologies are also major obstacles. In consideration that all of them have their future still ahead and education being one of the most important criteria for success in the South Korean society, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, together with its Korean partner organizations, decided to focus on this specific target group. We hope that the future may bring many positive changes for South Korea. In the days to come, saeteomins could serve as mediators and mentors for those who newly arrive. Fully integrated, they become important assets who can help to overcome prejudice and misunderstanding prior to a possible territorial or political unification.