”Supporting economic and social independence for North Korean defectors”... Ministry of Unification establishes self-reliance support division - South Korean media

On the 11th, the Ministry of Unification of South Korea established a new "Self-reliance Support Division" to support the long-term self-reliance of North Korean defectors.
The purpose of the ministry is to support social independence. The ministry also appointed Jung Eun Ji (Apink) as vice director of the Independence Support Division. Jung will work with Yoon Minho, director of the Ministry of Unification's Settlement and Security Policy Division, to support the independence of North Korea.
He has experience working in departments that report on the actual situation, and has previously served as the Unification Secretary's Office in the National Security Council, head of the Operations Support Division, and innovation administration officer in the Planning and Coordination Office.
The Self-Reliance Support Division announced that President Yoon Seok-yeol, in a commemorative speech for the "1st North Korean Defector Day" on July 14,
This is part of the measures the Ministry of Unification has been taking since emphasizing support for defectors from North Korea. Until now, the work related to defectors from North Korea has been handled by the Settlement Support Division, but with this reorganization,
The duties related to defectors are divided into the Settlement Support Division, Self-reliance Support Division, and Safety Support Division. In more detail, the division provides protection for defecting women, support for balancing work and family life, and support for children born in third countries and in South Korea.
Support for women's education and upbringing, support for North Korean defectors starting businesses, support for finding employment in agriculture and fishing, support for small businesses, and exemplary employment of North Korean defectors.
The ministry will implement a preferential purchasing system for companies and business owners and provide support for sales channels. Currently, there are about 27,000 North Korean defectors living in South Korea. Of these, 29% were on basic living allowance last year.
The rate is much higher than the general rate (4.8%). Although the rate has declined year by year since reaching 48% in 2012, many North Korean defectors are still unable to find work in South Korea.
In addition, many defectors are facing difficulties due to various frauds such as pyramid schemes and debts. The Ministry of Unification plans to create a system to help defectors successfully integrate into South Korean society.
To this end, the government has increased the initial settlement allowance for defectors from 10 million won (US$10,000) to 15 million won (US$15,000) next year.
The budget also includes an additional 20 million won (approximately 2.12 million yen) for the creation of additional training programs (approximately 31.9 million yen) and support for the stabilization of North Korean defectors facing crisis situations.
The government has set aside 100 million won (approximately 10.6 million yen) in support of these projects, and 370 million won (approximately 39.3 million yen) to improve the environment of educational institutions.