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Mothering and mothered during defection and resettlement: Experiences of North Korean refugee women and their children

Author

Listed:
  • Baik, Jeongwon
  • Yoon, Young Ji
  • Gibson, Priscilla
  • Lo, Nancy
  • Nam, Hee Eun
  • Im, Yu Jin
  • Lee, Hee Yun

Abstract

Women from North Korea (NK) face a perilous journey when they illegally defect to China, and then get married and have children to protect themselves from deportations back to NK and torture, on the path towards resettling in South Korea (SK) with their Chinese-Korean children. The socio-historical relationship among North and South Korea and China requires these women to travel clandestinely and make undesired choices, one of which is temporarily to leave their Chinese-Korean children in order to establish residences in South Korea. This collective case study presents the experiences of the five NK refugee mothers and five of their children born in China. Through individual interviews the women expressed that they made the best decisions possible given the challenges of mothering as a North Korean refugee, but they also expressed feeling of inadequacy as mothers in SK. Both mothers and children expressed challenges in their relationship upon reunification in SK. Mothers were forced to work long hours while children struggled with feelings of abandonment and trauma. Both mothers and children recognized that improving their lives required them to continuously re-adjust to their changing circumstances. Implications for social work services and policies are discussed to assist these women not only with adjustment to a new culture, but also to address their children’s well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Baik, Jeongwon & Yoon, Young Ji & Gibson, Priscilla & Lo, Nancy & Nam, Hee Eun & Im, Yu Jin & Lee, Hee Yun, 2021. "Mothering and mothered during defection and resettlement: Experiences of North Korean refugee women and their children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:130:y:2021:i:c:s0190740921003182
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106242
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nho, Choong Rai & Yoon, Sukyoung & Ko, Juae, 2018. "Voices of refugee children in Korea," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 606-616.
    2. Rousseau, C.Cécile & Rufagari, Marie-Claire & Bagilishya, Déogratias & Measham, Toby, 2004. "Remaking family life: strategies for re-establishing continuity among Congolese refugees during the family reunification process," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(5), pages 1095-1108, September.
    3. Kunhee Park & Youngtae Cho & In-Jin Yoon, 2009. "Social inclusion and length of stay as determinants of health among North Korean refugees in South Korea," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 54(3), pages 175-182, May.
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