Trauma History and Mental Health of North Korean Defectors
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PERSONALITY AND IMPULSE CONTROL DISORDERS (R LEE, SECTION EDITOR)
Trauma History and Mental Health of North Korean Defectors Jin-Won Noh 1 & So Hee Lee 2 Accepted: 15 September 2020 # The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Purpose of Review This study aimed to review the mental health status of North Korean defectors (NKDs) and related factors. Interventions to promote their mental health and issues to be dealt with are also reviewed. Recent Findings NKDs are often exposed to multiple severely traumatic events, both in North Korea and surrounding their defection. Furthermore, they face sociocultural barriers in adapting to a new society. Past exposure to traumatic events, longer defection periods, forced repatriation, psychological factors, and acculturative stress such as perceived discrimination, low income, family violence, and health complaints contribute to negative effects on mental health and obstruct their adaptation to life in the Republic of Korea. Summary It is necessary to develop evidence-based programs to promote NKDs’ mental health and help them to adapt to their new society. An NKD cohort study would be helpful to reveal their long-term mental health prognoses and interactions with preand post-migration factors. Keywords Trauma . Mental health . Post-traumatic stress disorder . North Koreans refugees . Social adaptation . Intervention
Introduction North Korean defectors (NKDs) are often exposed to traumatic events, both in North Korea and surrounding their defection [1•]. Furthermore, they face various sociocultural barriers when adapting to their new society [2]. Early interviews with NKDs during and immediately after the famine revealed, not surprisingly, that hunger and food shortages were the major factors motivating their escape from their homeland [3]. A Human Rights Watch report from 2002 stated that hunger was one of the key motives for flight. Others included frustration over lack of opportunities, loss of status, political persecution, and the desire to live in similar environments to North Koreans who live outside their country [4]. More than 33,000 NKDs have entered the Republic of Korea since 1998 [5]. Over 70% of these people were women This article is part of the Topical Collection on Personality and Impulse Control Disorders * So Hee Lee [email protected] 1
Department of Health Administration, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
2
Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea
and around 55% were in their 30s and 40s. In most cases, NKDs escape through a third country then come to South Korea. These are mainly Southeast Asian countries or China [6]. Furthermore, about 70% of NKDs reported having stayed in a third country and about 80% had stayed in the Republic of Korea for more than five years [7]. Some NKDs have been deported from China before reaching the Republic of Korea. Most NKDs go to China because it is easily geographically accessible from North Korea. However, NKDs are repatriated to North Korea if they are arr
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