Hanawon
Hanawon ( Hangeul : 하나 원) is a re-education camp for North Korean refugees in South Korea .
General
The facility near Anseong opened on July 8, 1999 and is located approximately 100 km south of the capital, Seoul.
After arriving in South Korea, North Korean refugees are brought to Hanawon for twelve weeks to prepare them for their future in South Korea. There are 392 hours of "courses" to be completed, including 121 hours for basic political education, but also historical aspects, a further 174 hours are used to introduce the refugees to the labor market. According to official information, both are done with the background of showing the people from the impoverished, human rights violating dictatorship of North Korea a free way of life in order to be able to survive better in their new homeland. Those affected are provided with an “entry fee” of 22 million won (approx. 14,500 euros) in order to have greater chances of a new start after the mostly penniless escape.
Methods
Refugees from North Korea are often accused of pursuing espionage activities for the hostile neighboring state. Therefore, as part of their stay in the camp, all persons are subjected to a questioning of several weeks, which is accompanied by psychological tests, by the South Korean secret service as soon as they arrive. Furthermore, no personal visits may be received, leaving the institution is generally not permitted, and cell phones are not approved for use.
On the other hand, it is again not a prison, the stay is only temporary and refugees are informed about basic freedoms and obligations in a democracy in order to find their way around South Korea better from the start. Likewise, in short practical training activities in the field of metal processing, the operation of various machines, basic gastronomic skills or trade-related processes are taught. However, this training takes place on a gender-specific basis, men are more likely to be trained in manual activities, women in office or household tasks.
Individual evidence
- ↑ What is the human rights situation like in North Korea? Amnesty International, accessed January 6, 2014 .
- ↑ Where North Koreans are integrated in a hurry. Die Welt, accessed January 6, 2014 .
- ^ North Korean refugees in South Korea. Deutsche Welle, accessed January 6, 2014 .
- ↑ Johannes Nichelmann: North Korean Refugees in South Korea - Enemies or Brothers? , Deutschlandfunk - " Background " from January 7, 2016