A SMALL but resilient group in Yonsei, North Korean defector students are the emblem of grit and grace. Overcoming numerous social and academic hurdles, the students embody the university’s vision of truth and freedom. Yonsei welcomes North Korean students with a multitude of accommodations for a fulfilling school experience; however, the school life of North Korean defector students often requires room for improvement. 

Exploring Yonsei’s assistance

   When moving to South Korea, North Korean defectors hope to escape economic difficulties, acquire a bachelor’s degree, and seek employment[1]. To reduce students’ burdens when pursuing an education, defector students see their tuition fees fully covered by the government and the North Korean Refugees Foundation. In addition to this tuition scholarship, Yonsei University offers various forms of financial aid to its North Korean defector students. Every semester, students receive ₩200,000 for textbook fees, additional aid for first-year defector students to support smooth adjustment, and other forms of special assistance from Yonsei donors. The school also covers up to three credits of Yonsei summer and winter courses, as well as fees for Yonsei Foreign Language Institute courses. In comparison, Korea University offers government-issued tuition scholarships for their North Korean students. Other universities provide additional scholarships for course credits; Ewha Woman’s University, for instance, subsidizes unlimited credits for summer and winter courses taken by their North Korean defector students. 

   In addition to financial aid, Yonsei University is home to active clubs aiming to create a welcoming environment for North Korean defector students. The Yonsei Korea Reunification Club, for instance, attracts students from all backgrounds interested in North Korean refugees and Korean unification. Founded by Yonsei’s North Korean defector student community in 2003, the club is increasingly gaining recognition within the student body. At a policy debate held on April 7, 57th General Student Council Promise Presidential candidate Gil Do-young (Sr., Dept. of Political Science & Int. Studies) stated that his campaign team would “collaborate with the Korea Reunification Club to assist North Korean defector students, advertise available scholarships, and publish relevant card news content on social media,” following the April election.

Uncovering their Yonsei experience

   North Korean students usually share positive experiences interacting with Yonsei’s students and faculty. The Yonsei Annals interviewed two of the 15 North Korean defector students at Yonsei University[2]. Student X stated that they are “thankful that professors listen carefully to even the smallest concerns and provide valuable advice.” In addition, while they are no longer able to socialize frequently due to online classes, X stated that “[they] were able to meet university friends who [they] were able to connect with and enjoy university life.” However, not all North Korean students’ experiences are pleasant. Shedding light on the widespread university culture of students bribing off past year exam papers from seniors or plagiarizing model assignments, student Y stated that it is “regretful that academic integrity does not matter for many, as long as students receive their desired scores,” and that it is “sometimes ironic to see students shouting slogans of equality, fairness, and justice.” 

   To improve their Yonsei experience, North Korean defector students expressed their desire for more information on university life and new feedback systems. Student Y explained, “It would be helpful if the school could provide lessons informing [them] of how South Korean university life is in general.” Moreover, most majors in Yonsei University operate bbeon son bbeon hoo, a popular feedback system that pairs a first-year student and senior student with matching student ID numbers; the senior usually buys food for the first-year student and provides numerous tips on university life. The appropriate advice defector students can receive from ordinary senior students, however, can be limited at times. Student X stated that it would be “ideal if the school could help create a communication system that specifically paired North Korean upperclassmen with underclassmen for tailored advice on courses or graduation.” 

Overcoming the hurdles

   Defector students prefer to disclose their identities when they feel comfortable doing so. However, some of Yonsei’s college entrance customs make this process difficult; for instance, when entering their major’s Kakaotalk group chats, newly admitted first-year students are required to submit photos of their admission certificates—documents that include various pieces of personal information. Student Y voiced, “I feel extremely uncomfortable when I find out that some people know where I'm from, even though I never mentioned it myself. Now, I just came to accept that the information is already spread.” 

   An additional hurdle for North Korean defector students is the South Korean society’s hostile gaze, as they are viewed differently from other international students. Student X stated, “Society’s perception of North Korean defectors does not seem to be very warm, partially due to the media painting us in a negative manner.” However, according to student X, “the handful of stories featured are usually controversial or sensationalist ones.” Due to such constraints, North Korean defector students still tend to be hesitant when revealing their stories and identities to others. Emphasizing the importance of Yonsei students equipping themselves with an unbiased gaze, student X voiced, “When you hide something, you tend to become stressed and self-conscious. I hope there comes a day when I can freely disclose my identity to my university friends.”

   When asked about their plans, both North Korean defector students expressed how significantly their identities will factor into the process of paving career paths. Despite fleeing North Korea at the age of 11 with the dream of buying a private car, X realized that acquiring wealth in the South Korean capitalist society was difficult. X thus wishes to become someone who informs other North Korean defectors about the capitalist economic system, what capital is, and how the market works. Beyond helping defectors, X also wishes to convey scientific knowledge to marginalized individuals. “I find satisfaction in my life when I help people,” stated X.

   Similarly, Student Y aspires to study harder, earn a doctorate, and become a world-class scholar. Student Y then expressed their desire to visit China under the pretext of research, rescue North Korean women and children suffering from human trafficking and prostitution, and help them move to South Korea to end their slave-like lives. “What’s important is that I was born in North Korea, and I keep asking myself what I can do for those in my situation. While I do not have definitive answers, I know that this question will definitely have a significant impact on my future,” stated Y. 

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   Today, there are approximately 30,000 North Korean refugees residing in South Korea[3]. For many, adapting to a drastically different educational system is difficult, especially one notorious for having burdensome amounts of academic pressure. Now more than ever, it is up to our student community to accompany the school in fostering a safe, accepting environment for North Korean defector students.

[1] Korea Hana Foundation (Ministry of Unification)

[2] For the protection of personal information, X and Y are anonymous aliases.

[3] Ministry of Unification