South Korea’s Ministry of Unification yet again revised how it refers to North Korean defectors. Their goal is to find a new label that cuts through the stigma and reminds the public that these individuals are, first and foremost, South Korean citizens, rather than escapees.
Earlier this month, the ministry said it would adopt the English term “North Korean-born citizens” in place of the widely used “North Korean defectors.” Officials say this isn’t just about semantics; it’s a reflection of the South Korean constitution, which views anyone born on the Korean Peninsula as a citizen of the Republic of Korea.
The shift also aligns with the Korean expression of 북향민 (“bukhyangmin”), literally meaning “people whose hometown is in the North,” which the Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, has used more frequently when referring to the community in recent years. Officials argue that highlighting birthplace rather than the act of defection fosters shared nationality and encourages smoother social integration for those who have resettled in South Korea.
More than 34,000 North Koreans have arrived in South Korea since the 1990s, many after perilous journeys through China and Southeast Asia. Yet despite citizenship and government support programs, the transition is rarely easy. Many face cultural adjustment difficulties, employment barriers and social discrimination (read more about defectors’ continuous struggles in South Korea). By softening the labels that often mark these people as "different" or "outsiders," the ministry hopes to bridge that gap. In fact, guidance has already been sent out to government agencies and news outlets to start using “North Korean-born citizens” in their English communications.
A Long History of Labeling
This change is the latest step in a long and sometimes contentious debate in South Korea over how to properly describe people who escaped the North. For decades, the Korean term 탈북민 (“talbukmin”), literally meaning “people who escaped from the North,” was widely used in media and government documents, mirroring the English term “defectors.” However, critics have voiced concerns that the language places excessive emphasis on the act of fleeing and can carry political or negative connotations.
In the past, the South Korea government attempted to soften the wording by introducing 세터민 (“saeteomin”), meaning “new settler,” though that term never fully caught on. The latest push toward “citizens” instead of “refugees” is a broader policy shift. It reinforces Seoul’s constitutional claim that the entire peninsula is one national community. Analysts also point out that using less confrontational language can be a diplomatic tool, keeping the door open for dialogue with Pyongyang.
New Term For Defectors Divides Opinion
The change hasn't been met with open arms by everyone—especially within the defector community. For many, the word “defector” is a badge of honor and a political statement.
Former diplomat Thae Yong-ho has been vocal in his criticism, noting that the term talbuk (escape from the North) represents a rejection of the North Korean system. To these activists, calling someone a defector isn't just a description; it’s a symbol of their resistance to an authoritarian regime. They argue that scrubbing the word risks erasing the human rights crisis that forced them to flee and the incredible risks they took—crossing militarized borders, hiding from law enforcement, and dodging traffickers—to find freedom. Some have even petitioned human rights authorities to stop the change, feeling it undermines their personal sacrifice.
Then there is the linguistic confusion over the word bukhyangmin. In Korean, the syllable “hyang” can mean “hometown,” but it can also mean “in the direction of.” This double meaning has many defectors worried. The National Association of North Korean Defectors warned that bukhyang could be misinterpreted as “heading toward the North.”
There’s a fear that this ambiguity could be twisted into propaganda. Pyongyang might use it to suggest that those who fled are actually loyal to the North or want to return. On a more personal level, our team heard from refugees during a recent trip to South Korea who worried that the "direction" meaning of hyang could imply a desire for the South to eventually send them back North.
The Bottom Line
At its heart, this debate highlights the complex identity of North Koreans living in the South. They are survivors and survivors of repression, but they are also legal citizens. While the ministry wants to promote dignity and inclusion, the reality of life on the Korean Peninsula means that language is never just about words on a page—it’s about identity and politics.
Whether “North Korean-born citizens” becomes the new standard will likely depend on whether the people it’s meant to describe actually feel it fits who they are.
