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Thu, March 23, 2023 | 10:26

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (5)

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (5)

While I was there, I really wanted to get out. "Why should I be here?" But these days, when I look back, that was my most comfortable time in South Korea. Sometimes I miss the time I was at Hanawon, it was boring, but also it was so quiet, I had time to reflect on my life.

2019-07-01 09:58

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (4)

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (4)

I read the previous blog posts about Hanawon, I am happy to share my experience with you. I hope you can destroy the Hanawon system. It is such a harmful and destructive way to introduce North Korean refugees to South Korean society.

2019-06-22 10:24

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (3)

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (3)

On July 8, 1999, the South Korean government opened the Settlement Support Center for North Korean Refugees, often referred to as "Hanawon." In the past two decades, more than 32,000 North Korean refugees have made it to South Korea, with almost every refugee passing through Hanawon.

2019-06-15 07:07

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (2)

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience' (2)

Hanawon was useless for me. I just wanted to get out. It seemed they were letting ideology and politics have too much influence. One ridiculous thing we learned was about putting blocks in toilets to save water. They were more interested in talking about the environment rather than teaching us something practical for everyday survival, such as learning how to pay bills. At th...

2019-06-08 09:12

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience'

North Korean refugees speak out: 'My Hanawon experience'

My Hanawon experience was terrible, one of the worst things to happen to me in my life.

2019-06-01 13:28

Female defectors speak out on English and adjustment to South Korea

Female defectors speak out on English and adjustment to South Korea

According to the Ministry of Unification, 71 percent of North Korean refugees are female. This edition of "Voices from the North" presents three female refugees discussing how they have adjusted to South Korea and how English has had a role in that adjustment. - ED.

2019-04-06 09:17

Male defectors on English and adjustment to South Korea

Male defectors on English and adjustment to South Korea

According to the Ministry of Unification, 71 percent of North Korean refugees are female, 29 percent are male. This edition of “Voices from the North” presents three refugee males discussing how they have adjusted to South Korea, and how English has had a role in that adjustment. The next edition of “Voices from the North” will present three refugee females discussing similar...

2019-03-31 13:20

North Korean defectors: 'Please, don't ask me about…'

North Korean defectors: 'Please, don't ask me about…'

Sometimes, it seems that North Korean TV programming has a special channel here. There is so much talk about the leaders of North Korea. I'm really tired of hearing about them. I have never started a conversation with anyone about the Kim family ruling North Korea, but people constantly ask me about them. It was propaganda all of the time when I was in North Korea, and it see...

2019-03-17 18:18

Defectors' perspective: Why am I negative about tourism to North Korea? (part2)

Defectors' perspective: Why am I negative about tourism to North Korea? (part2)

I'm ashamed that people go to North Korea, it is so disappointing. The trips organized or approved by North Korea only show what North Korea wants them to see. Tourists might see 1 percent of North Korea, but they won't see how most North Koreans live. North Korea is a big propaganda machine, so everything they do will have propaganda in mind. They won't allow anything that w...

2019-03-13 09:50

Defectors' perspective: Why am I positive about tourism to North Korea? (part1)

Defectors' perspective: Why am I positive about tourism to North Korea? (part1)

I support the idea of tourism to North Korea, for two main reasons. One, North Koreans should see foreigners. Ordinary people can't meet foreigners and aren't allowed to talk to them. If foreigners aren't allowed to go there, then it could seem to North Koreans that there are only North Koreans in this world.

2019-03-12 10:31

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