color="blue">Interview of Principal of Durihana International School

color="blue">by Lee Seonyeong and Kim Nayun style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;">

 

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="blue">Abused human rights, disrupted family

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">Through the interview with the principal of Durihana International
School Kiwon Chun, we had an opportunity to get to know the problems of North
Korean defectors better. Kiwon calmly answered our questions about his motivation
to start this program for North Korean defectors. In 1995, he told us that he
witnessed a horrifying scene in China. Many women defectors were unwillingly
married to Chinese men. He saw dead people on the ground near the border. He
saw young children defectors begging for food. Even though a few decades had
passed since 1995, over 30,000 North Korean defectors still exist in South Korea
and over 2,000,000 North Koreans have lost their lives, according to UN statistics.
The North Koreans will keep crossing into the South in the future, so Kiwon
humbly decided to devote his life to teaching and caring for North Korean defectors.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">Among the approximately 80 students at Durihana International
School are two types of students: students born in North Korea or born in China.
While the government provides a resettlement fund, a home, and all educational
fees until University to students born in North Korea, the students born in
China are provided nothing by the government, except an identification card.
In addition to having financial problems, the students born in China also suffer
from an identity crisis. Since they were born and spent their youth in China,
they both consider themselves as Chinese, not Korean. This identity crisis between
Korean and Chinese comes when they finally move to Korea. North Korea defectors
escape North Korean society that abuses their basic human rights in order to
find their rights and freedom. However, while crossing the border, most suffer
from the pain of a disrupted family. The deep scar occurs on young children
who witnessed their mother sold to man and taken back to North Korea again.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">Principal Kiwon elaborated that his goal is to teach and heal
those wounded youth who were forced to be separated from their mother, to have
a step father or to have to adapt to new siblings. Their lives are unfortunate
because they distrust society and people. Indeed, he accepted into the school
a young boy whose life had been threatened by his step father when he was only
eight years old; he led the boy to successfully live his life cheerfully through
Jesus’ teachings and through the fatherly love of the principal himself.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">I was relieved to see them carry their tragic story calmly, adapting
well to this society. After interviewing them, I felt pity for prematurely old
students who had lived harsh experiences, though young in age, in the unfortunate
environments in China and North Korea.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">For North Korean defectors, he said that drastic development of
technology and society are just a menace that they have had to overcome. Compared
to the past, China has entered the digital age in which smart phones are an
indispensable tool. Thus, nobody can live without a smart phone. North Korean
defectors who simply wanted freedom are no longer able to lead a calm life,
leaving their hopes trampled. For those defectors, the principal asked us to
pay more attention to and to show affection toward them to help them adapt well
to society.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="blue">Understanding the different culture

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">North Korean defectors have spent extremely tragic times under
the socialist system of North Korea, merely sustaining their lives with low
quality foods and basic commodities provided by their government. Even though
we lend our hand to them in full sincerity, defectors naturally doubt our intentions
of helping them. Most North Korean defectors supported themselves by deceiving
and taking advantage of others. Thus, for them who have cheated others consistently
in the past in order to survive, doing an act of charity is very unfamiliar
to them. Also, since they are used to receiving essential commodities for maintaining
life from the North Korean government, they very rarely express gratitude to
people who help them. Principal Kiwon told us that he had been hurt by their
untruthfulness, suspicions, and ignorance about his unselfish love.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">However, Principal Kiwon said their unthankful attitudes are derived
from the differences between our color="purple">“cultures.” color="navy">Our deeply rooted South Korean culture is woven inside us, just
as North Korean defectors have deeply entrenched North Korea’s culture in their
minds. Even though they are becoming accustomed to the South Korean culture
and starting to understand it, their entrenched traditions lead them to continue
acting the way they did in North Korea. Unlike their primary motivation to fill
their empty stomachs by crossing the border, adapting to a new culture and society
is a more harsh reality.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">Principal Kiwon urged us, as honorable members of society, to
help our North Korean defectors better adapt. He again emphasized the importance
of education for South Koreans in order to make us fully understand our cultural
differences in order to erase any discrimination. A student in Durihana International
School had been discriminated against in the past just for the simple reason
that he is from North Korea. Breaking the stereotype towards North Koreans should
be the cornerstone of the cultural unity between North and South Korea.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="blue">Government policy for North Korean defectors

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">It is not enough to say that we ourselves have the responsibility
to lead North Korean defectors since we have already settled and established
ourselves in this society but Principal Kiwon also asserted the importance of
revising governmental policy toward North Korean defectors. He illustrated that
our policy “gives them fish rather than teaching them how to fish," by
neglecting instruction in the basic skills of hunting as compared to that of
the United States. The United States encourages refugees to get a job in order
to become financially independent, providing them a house offered by NGO only
for the first six months. However, unlike the policy of the United States, the
Korea government offers a resettlement fund, a home and about $500 minimum cost
of living allowance every month. This system is counter-productive for them
to become independent and self-sustaining in our society.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">The South Korean government offers around $3,000 resettlement
fund in three separate installments to North Korean defectors. These defectors,
who have never had that high sum of money, will eventually spend it all without
planning properly for the future. Moreover, North Korean defectors tend not
to work hard to achieve independence in a workplace where they can earn about
$700 since that amount is little different from what they earn and the minimum
cost of living allowance they receive from the government.

style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;">Eventually,
they are unlikely to find stable employment or even though they find it; they
are prone to give it up soon. The government policy of providing a resettlement
fund to defectors instead of teaching them how to earn a living and how to save
to become financially independent in this new society must be amended, says
Principal Kiwon.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">The principal endeavors tremendously to rescue North Korean defectors
with all his efforts and all his care. Some of the principal’s rescued children
realize their dreams abroad. One such student who has particularly stood out
in his memory was one who was accepted to a university in the United States.
The teacher maintains that he had always been proud to introduce that student
to others.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">But, even perfect students such as him could not maintain his
pure intentions. He lost his humility and would arrive late to worship. And,
he would often boast of his university. The principal expressed much lamentation
of the student’s loss of gratitude in place of pride.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">There was another case. Fifteen students who attended Durihana
International School decided to transfer to regular schools the next semester.
Even though they had lived at this school for two or three years under his guiding
protection, they were ungrateful and didn’t express their gratitude to the
principal when they left. As the principal’s only reward was a simple lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="purple"> “Thank you,” color="navy"> he experienced deep sorrow when they left.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">Nevertheless, he emphasized that this ingratitude is not a matter
of North Koreans alone. For instance, children of South Koreans know that their
parents love them, but they can do nothing more than just understand it. When
they grow up, give birth to, and then raise their children, they will then "feel"
their parents’ love within their hearts.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">What the North Korean defectors need is time. The principal said
that since they will realize the love they received in Durihana International
School and feel grateful as time passes. Now he should trust them and steadily
proceed with his job of rescuing them. At first, he was disappointed by their
attitude. But soon he knew that his disappointment came from his mind, impatiently
expecting something, and he finally tried not to expect anything in return,
but to acknowledge that it takes time for them to feel grateful. Following the
biblical admonition color="purple">“do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy"> he heads to a higher level as a pastor by forgetting what he
is giving. It is difficult to live a steady life helping others with limitless
faith. In this devotion, I realized again that he is truly a great man.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">Even though Durihana International School works by the will of
God, it has problem that can’t be solved with prayer alone. The school is located
in Bangbae-dong, an expensive village in Seoul, costing 20 million won per month
for expenses that include the dormitory and school. According to the principal,
the financial problem was the heaviest burden because the school pays not only
monthly rent but also provides three daily meals for 80 students. Fortunately,
a few companies reached out generously to Durihana International School, providing
support of six million won for rent and rice every month.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">One generous company with its motto of “Make money to help the
poor” sends 200kg of rice to the school monthly. Churches have also stepped
in to help. Twenty churches take turns making delicious, nutritious meals for
the school. Warm helping hands glean and gather for the school and, thanks to
them, children in the school live in comfort. However, it is still difficult
to pay fourteen million won for monthly rent.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="purple">“Then, how much does the government support?” lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy"> I suddenly wondered. The answer was shocking. lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="purple">“Government? They do nothing.” style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy"> While even non-wealthy individuals help to sustain the school,
the government has done nothing to help. How unfathomable! Even a little money
from the government’s standpoint would be a huge helping hand to the school.
I am so sorry this situation exists.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">Lastly, the principal emphasized the importance of English. He
had the chance to learn English when he attended university, but he chose other
languages, failing to see its future importance. In fact, English is a prominent
and most crucial part in the rescue of North Korean defectors. He often goes
to America on business but usually lacks sufficient time to deliver his speech
because he must hire an interpreter. If he is given an hour to speak, he can
only use 30 minutes in reality. In addition to lack of time, he feels burdened
because he is unsure whether his speech is well received.

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="blue">Interview of Principal of Durihana International School

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="olive">by Lee Seonyeong and Kim Nayun

lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family:함초롬바탕;mso-font-width:100%;letter-spacing:0pt;mso-text-raise:0pt;"> color="navy">When the reunification is accomplished, we Koreans will be global
leaders with South Korean techniques and North Korean resources combined. Here,
the most significant leadership skill is communication. To communicate with
people around the world, we must be able to speak English fluently. Therefore,
it is essential for us to do what we can do now: South Koreans must develop
their English skills to prepare to teach English to North Koreans when reunification
occurs.