Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu plans to visit defectors from North Korea living in Hanawon in Anseong on the afternoon of January 27 on the occasion of lunar New Year. 

Defectors from North Korea attend an orientation course comprised of educations for basic vocational skills and for social adaptation. 

Effective January 2005, the Ministry of Unification started calling them “Sae-teo-min (meaning those exploring a new life)” instead of “Tal-buk-ja (meaning escapees from North Korea).” 

Under the relevant law, municipal authorities provide support for the defectors in cooperation with social welfare service institutions so that they can mingle with others as community members and live self-reliant life. 

The provincial office also plans to operate a lounge for the defectors and hold workshops designed to develop measures to help them live self-reliant life, in addition to giving them opportunities to visit cultural and industrial facilities in the province.