Tackling the Social Exclusion of the North Korean Refugees in South Korea

The primary goal of this article is to examine the social exclusion confronting North Korean refugees in South Korea and to explore the policy measures that will tackle this problem. The article first delves into North Korean refugees’ social exclusion in terms of their alienation from mainstream Korean society, poverty, vocational instability, humble housing conditions, educational inequalities, and poor health. To alleviate the refugees’ woes, this article suggests the following policy measures: the establishment of an administrative linkage and local governance system, encouragement of socio-cultural inclusion, promotion of economic self-help and independence, provision of comprehensive vocational services, and furtherance of a more comfortable residential environment.