A Study on Korean Police Officers’ Perceptions of North Korean Defectors

Purpose: As of 2024, approximately 34,000 people who escaped North Korea are risking their lives to escape the oppression and human rights violations of the North Korean Kim Jong-un regime and settle in South Korea. They learn the truth about the outside world only after secretly watching South Korean dramas in North Korea, and they decide that there is no future for them as long as Kim Jong-un holds power in North Korea, so they take their children and escape North Korea. After overcoming the crisis of death and settling in South Korea, they receive comprehensive help from the South Korean police to settle into South Korean society. Therefore, South Korean police officers have a high level of understanding in research on North Korean defectors, and since South Korean police officers are public officials, sufficient objectivity can be expected. This study is valuable academic basic data that can provide many researchers internationally with South Korean society's perception of North Korean defectors. Method: The data processing of this study was conducted using the statistical package program SPSS 23.0 Program, and the following statistical verifications were performed according to the purpose of data analysis. First, frequency analysis was conducted using the SPSS/PC+23.0 program to identify general characteristics. Second, Cronbach's α coefficient was calculated to verify the reliability of the questionnaire. Third, One Way ANOVA was conducted to find out the difference in police officers' perception of North Korean defectors according to their period of working. Fourth, exploratory factor analysis was conducted to find out police officers' perception of North Korean defectors. Results: Korean police officers who had worked for a long time recognized that North Korean defectors visit police stations after settling in South Korea to receive legal support. Among Korean police officers who had experience working in security departments directly managing North Korean defectors, those who had worked for a longer time recognized that what was necessary for adapting to South Korean society was an understanding of South Korean society, such as liberal democracy and the market economy system, and that what was difficult about settling in South Korean society was feeling insecure about their personal safety. In addition, they recognized that the average monthly income per household of North Korean defectors in South Korean society was moderate. Conclusion: Since North Korean defectors acquire South Korean citizenship normally, once they settle down in South Korean society, there is no discrimination based on constitutional values, and there are cases of them being elected to the National Assembly, showing their acceptance. In addition, the minimum wage is set at $7.45 per hour, which is higher than the monthly salary of North Korean diplomats (0.3 dollars), and North Korean defectors also receive compensation for their work and enjoy a stable life. In addition, all North Korean defectors live while enjoying South Korea's social security system, including unemployment benefits, health insurance, industrial accident compensation insurance, national pension, and old-age pension.