This Feb. 15, 2022, file picture exhibits a North Korean flag within the North Korean village contained in the Demilitarized Zone. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – The Seoul metropolis authorities will present North Korean defectors with free well being checkups, on-line tutoring providers for college students and different assist measures to assist them higher settle of their new homeland, officers stated Monday.
It’s the first time in 9 years that Seoul has put collectively assist measures for defectors.
Seoul is dwelling to six,759 defectors, about 21.4 % of the full, and about 3.4 billion received (US$2.85 million) has been earmarked for this yr’s assist plan, up 1.5 billion received from final yr.
Below the plan, free medical examinations might be supplied for 200 individuals aged 14 or older within the first half of the yr on a pilot foundation, and people in want of medical therapy after examinations might be moreover given 1 million received within the title of nursing charges a yr.
This system might be expanded to different defectors both within the second half or subsequent yr, officers stated.
The town authorities additionally elevated the quantity of monetary support supplied to assist new defector households settling in Seoul buy fundamental home items, resembling TV units and followers, to 1 million received from 700,000 received.
Additionally obtainable to defectors might be welfare providers for these struggling home violence or poverty in addition to counseling packages for these experiencing despair or trauma, officers stated.
The assist plan additionally consists of free e-learning lessons and mentoring providers for defector college students by SeoulLearn, a web based schooling platform, public jobs and group integration packages for defectors.
“The plan goals to assist (North Korean defectors) achieve full independence and social integration, not solely resettlement,” the town authorities stated.
(Yonhap)