Shedding light to Saejowi’s Annual Home Care Service: A Lifeline for North Korean Defectors in Seoul
Since March 2024, Saejowi restarted its annual Family Home Care Service aimed at supporting North Korean defectors in Seoul. The program, running from May to November each year, focuses on providing holistic care to defectors struggling to adjust to life in South Korea. Through a compassionate and dedicated team of professionals, the initiative aims to build a sustainable support system that helps defectors not only survive but thrive in their new home.
What is the Home Care Service?
The Family Home Care Service is led by a team of approximately 25 professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences including expertise in counseling North Korean defectors. These counselors work closely with Seoul’s local government to bridge the gap between the defectors and the local community, helping to alleviate the challenges that arise from cultural, social, and emotional dissonance.
The service focuses particularly on those who find it difficult to navigate life in South Korea, whether due to social isolation, economic hardship, or health issues. It is especially significant for elderly defectors, who often face a unique set of difficulties after escaping the North, including health issues and the inability to work or study. By providing ongoing support, the program seeks to create stable, continuous relationships that give defectors the confidence and resources to integrate into society.
Going Beyond Medical Support Service
While Saejowi’s medical counseling support centers have long been a safe space for defectors, especially the elderly, the Family Home Care Service goes a step further. It extends beyond medical assistance to provide comprehensive social and emotional care. The initiative recognizes that defectors need more than physical treatment—they need a social network, emotional support, and practical assistance to fully adapt to their new environment.
Through the program, professionals meet defectors regularly, offering a space where they can feel heard and valued. The focus is on fostering connections not just within the North Korean defector community, but also with the wider local community in Seoul.
Types of Support Provided by Saejowi
Saejowi offers a range of services tailored to the needs of defectors, focusing on four main areas:
1. Counseling Support: Saejowi professionals visit the homes of North Korean defectors and provide psychological counseling. Many defectors suffer from trauma, anxiety, and other mental health issues resulting from their experiences in North Korea and during their escape. The counseling is designed to address these deep-rooted issues while helping them adjust to life in South Korea.
2. Emotional Support: Continuous meetings provide emotional backing for defectors who are in crisis. Saejowi’s professionals work to form personal relationships with each individual, offering a steady hand to guide them through their struggles.
3. Living Support Linkage: One of the key aspects of the service is connecting defectors with local resources. Whether it’s education, healthcare, legal aid, or job training, Saejowi seeks to provide a comprehensive support network to improve their living conditions and enable them to become active participants in society.
4. Program Support Linkage: In addition to basic living support, Saejowi organizes cultural experiences and self-esteem programs that help defectors rediscover their sense of self-worth. These programs are individually tailored to each defector, ensuring that they receive the specific type of assistance they need to build their confidence and improve their quality of life.
A Lifeline for Elderly Defectors
One of the most vulnerable groups Saejowi serves is the elderly population of defectors. Many older defectors face significant challenges due to age, health issues, and the difficulty of adapting to a new culture after a lifetime in North Korea. For these individuals, the Home Care Service provides not just medical support but a space to communicate their needs, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Through regular meetings and activities, elderly defectors are encouraged to engage with others, alleviating feelings of isolation and loneliness. The program helps them build meaningful relationships and connect with their neighbors, while also providing practical assistance with healthcare and daily living.
Saejowi’s annual Family Home Care Service is a vital lifeline for many North Korean defectors living in Seoul, helping them navigate the complexities of their new lives in South Korea. By offering a comprehensive range of support—emotional, social, medical, and practical—the program not only addresses their immediate needs but also empowers them to build a brighter future.
Through its deep connection with the local Seoul community and its ongoing cooperation with government agencies, Saejowi is building bridges between North Korean defectors and South Korean society. In doing so, the organization is fostering an environment where defectors can feel secure, valued, and capable of achieving their full potential.
This program represents a crucial step toward the full integration of North Korean defectors into South Korean society, offering them the tools, support, and encouragement they need to thrive. As the program grows and evolves, it will continue to be a beacon of hope for those who have endured unimaginable hardship and are now seeking to build a new life in freedom.
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