The Role of Media, Activism, and the Government in the North Korean Refugee Situation Open Access

Abstract

Despite the growth in North Korean refugee resettlement from the mid-1990s until the present, current media and literature have consistently portrayed North Korean refugees as the defenseless victims of an unjust regime. Prior to 2002, the North Korean refugee population in China consisted primarily of defectors motivated by famine or economic reasons. These defectors were not organized as a group, had no rights in China, and were subject to the exploitation of smugglers and human traffickers. In 2002, a shift in media framing provided an opportunity for North Korean refugees to obtain asylum through unconventional methods. From this point onwards, refugees took the initiative in finding their own path to resettlement. Through collaboration with the media and exploitation of government loopholes, refugee agency became the driving factor behind the resettlement of North Korean refugees. From 2002 onwards refugee agency grew until the refugee population became a key player with the ability to affect the government through its actions. Over the period from 2002 to 2010, North Korean refugees have found their own voice in society as key players in dealing with North Korean human rights issues and the North Korean refugee situation.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Timeline of Events.................................................................................... 1

Chapter 1 Introduction.............................................................................. 2

Chapter 2 Data and Methods..................................................................... 10

Overview of Data..................................................................................... 10

Assessment of Sources............................................................................. 10

Data Collection Methods............................................................................ 12

Chapter 3 Findings.................................................................................... 21

Total vs. Significant Events......................................................................... 21

Asylum Seeking Activity............................................................................. 25

Government Activity.................................................................................. 28

Chapter 4 Changes in Government Activity................................................... 32

Chapter 5 Asylum-Seeking Activity and Media............................................... 51

Chapter 6 Examination of Case Studies........................................................ 61

Overview.................................................................................................. 61

Double Repatriation (2000)......................................................................... 61

The Spanish Embassy (2002)...................................................................... 65

Balloon Activism (2008).............................................................................. 72

Chapter 7 Conclusion.................................................................................. 78

Bibliography............................................................................................... 83

References................................................................................................. 89

List of Figures

Figure 0-1................................................................................................... 1

Figure 2-1................................................................................................. 18

Figure 3-1................................................................................................. 22

Figure 3-2................................................................................................. 24

Figure 3-3................................................................................................. 25

Figure 3-4................................................................................................. 26

Figure 3-5................................................................................................. 26

Figure 3-6................................................................................................. 27

Figure 3-7................................................................................................. 28

Figure 3-8................................................................................................. 29

Figure 4-1................................................................................................. 37

Figure 4-2................................................................................................. 43

Figure 4-3................................................................................................. 48

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Asian and Asian American Studies
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Sociology, Organizational History, Asia, Australia and Oceania
Keyword	North Korean defector North Korea Activism Government Action Media Refugee Activism North Korean refugee
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Kim, Sun-Chul , Emory University
Committee Members	Crowley, Cheryl, Emory University Suzuki, Erin M, Emory University

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