북한이탈주민의 사회자본과 남한사회 적응에 관한 종단적 분석 (2017-2021) = Social Capital of North Korean Refugees A Longitudinal Analysis of the Adaptation of South Korean Society(2017-2021)

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study analyzed the social capital of North Korean refugees. Social capital is an intangible resource and plays a very important role for migrants. Based on the analysis results, we tried to suggest policy implication. To this end, first, the trend of changes in social capital of North Korean refugees by year was analyzed. Second, the effect of social capital of North Korean refugees on adaptation to South Korean society was analyzed. Third, the factors that determine the social capital of North Korean refugees were analyzed.
As a result of the analysis, first, the social capital of North Korean refugees has been on the decline from 2017 to 2021, and the bonding social capital, which means the relationship with North Korean refugees, has been on the rise from 2019, and the bridging social capital has been on the decline. Second, it was found that the social capital of North Korean refugees had a positive effect on economic, psychological/physical, and social integration on South Korean social adaptation. In particular, the role of bridge social capital, which means relations with South Koreans, was revealed to be important. Third, the main factors that determine social capital for North Korean refugees were the level of education in South Korea, participation in social and group activities as a type of leisure activity on weekends or holidays, and the gap in social capital by age was large.
In a qualitative in-depth interview to supplement the quantitative research results and understand the context of individual North Korean refugees, the negative perception of South Korean social education and North Korean relationship expanded over time, while bridging social capital, which means relations with South Koreans, appeared to be more difficult to form over time. Nevertheless, religious activities and families have now turned out to be the main space providing social capital to them.
Finally, this study suggested the following policy implication. First, despite the importance of educational experience in South Korean society to form social capital, many support programs were mainly aimed at teenagers. Therefore, a support program is required to expand the experience of South Korean social education for adult/senior North Korean refugees. Second, support programs are required to expand the participation of various private organizations to recover social capital of North Korean refugees, which has decreased since COVID-19. Third, in terms of awareness, a policy program is required to prevent and reduce various social pathological phenomena (multi-level marketing, voice phishing, etc.) that can hinder relations between North Korean refugees. In addition, programs are required to support various private organization participation activities that can increase the frequency of contact with South Korean residents and promote relationships.