South Korea wants people to stop using term ‘defectors’ for those who flee North Korean regime
South Korea reveals why it wants to stop using the term ‘defectors’
- South Korea is planning to change the term "defectors" for North Koreans who resettle in the South, as the current word carries a "negative connotation".
- The Ministry of Unification has commissioned a study to review and replace the term "talbukmin" (people who escaped from the North) by the end of the year to promote social integration.
- Unification minister Chung Dong Young noted that North Korean escapees dislike the character 'tal' (meaning 'escape' or 'defection'), which contributes to the negative perception.
- The term "bukhyangmin", meaning "people from the North", is currently the most favoured alternative as it does not highlight escape or betrayal.
- The initiative aims to improve the social integration of the approximately 34,410 North Korean defectors in South Korea, with a survey indicating almost 60 per cent favour a term change.