Title : A Study on Health and Economic Assimilation of North Korean Defectors in South Korea

Author : Seungho Jung(Incheon National University), Hyeseung Wee(NHIS), Jongmin Lee(BOK)

This study examines the health status of North Korean defectors and their economic assimilation in South Korea. We employed the National Health Insurance database from 2003 to 2020 to construct a dataset encompassing almost all North Korean defectors in South Korea, as well as a 2% control sample randomly selected from the national population. In the analysis of health conditions, we find that both male and female defectors exhibit shorter statures compared to the corresponding birth cohort in the control group, This disparity was most pronounced in the 1981-1990 cohort, suggesting the lack of nutrition during the North Korean famine. We also find a higher frequency of medical utilization due to mental illnesses and infectious diseases among North Korean defectors. Moreover, a larger percentage of male defectors reported either drinking or smoking than male natives. The panel analysis revealed a substantial gap in income between North Korean defectors and South Koreans and this gap diminished with an extended period of residence in South Korea. However, the size of the income gap is notably larger than that observed between South Koreans and other foreign immigrants, suggesting it may be challenging to converge given the potential working period of the North Korean defectors in South Korea. Additionally, defectors who have infectious diseases or mental problem upon arrival earn less than those who do not. The income disparity resulting from mental problem appeared to lessen with longer residence periods, whereas the gap attributed to infectious diseases remained persistent even as residence duration increased.