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By the way, children born in third countries account for more than half of all North Korean refugee children.

Even this is the number of children attending school, and the total size is not even officially counted.



Reporter Suwon Sook-wook then covered if there are any measures to embrace these children into our society.



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There are about 2,200 North Korean defector students whose parents are North Korean defectors.



Of these, 1,498 were born in third countries, accounting for more than half.



Children not attending school are not included.



The total size is estimated by the relevant civic groups at around 6,000, and there is no official data on the government's current status.



[Kim Yun-young/Director of the Youth Support Foundation with Migration Background: Born in a third country Even understanding the actual situation and support for these students is a bit lacking, we have difficulties in applying.]



Most of them hide in China and come to receive education or welfare Although the benefits are desperately needed, the government support is only a one-time payment of 4.5 million won in the early settlement period.



[Mr. A / Mother of North Korean defector child born in a third country: Really, it is not enough to bring and raise children at that time (with that money).

The children also buy clothes (I have to), and I have a younger brother downstairs.] I



can't get a job subsidy, and I can't get a deposit for a rental apartment, so I'm being marginalized from the housing policy.



[Hwang Hee-geon / Vice-Principal of Alternative School for North Korean Defectors: When I go out in society, I am also doing my duty of national defense.

I am fulfilling my duty as a Korean citizen who has to pay taxes.

Instead of doing their duty, they are not receiving the rights or consideration of these children now.]



Attempts to amend the North Korean Refugee Support Act to support children born in third countries have been made several times in the National Assembly.



However, in addition to the condition that North Korea must be the place of birth, it is a stumbling block to be recognized as a North Korean defector if you do not acquire foreign citizenship after defecting.



In the case of China, Chinese nationals are prioritized for those born in the country, which means that there may be diplomatic problems in resolving the Chinese nationality of children.



Experts say the alternative is to change the way you apply on a family-by-family basis.



[Yoon Sang-seok / Director of Multicultural Think Tank: Now we are approaching individual North Korean defectors.

If we change the concept to support (children) as members of the family, wouldn't it reduce the controversy in which some are supported and others are excluded...

.]



As North Korean refugee children born in third countries are the children we need to care for, we need effective settlement support measures.



(Video coverage: Lee Yong, Video editing: Park Chun-bae, VJ: Roh Jae-min)



▶ 'Third country-born North Korean defector' is turned away from "blind spots"