이스라엘의 이주민 지원제도 및 정책분석 연구 = A Study on the Israel Return Diaspora Institute and Policy for North- Korean Diaspora

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

South Korean policies and systems regarding North Korean Refugees are based on Israel’s immigrant policy. Enterprises such as Hanawon and the Regional Hana Center established by the Ministry of Unification took pages from Israel’s Immigrant Settlement Policy.
As far as immigrant policies are concerned, Israel’s policies are the most historical and in certain aspects can be considered as the prototype. Since the beginning of Israel’s founding, the country encouraged the return of its expatriates to their motherland through the organization “Jewish Agency” established in 1929. In 1968 especially, the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption was established within the government and thus began to establish and execute immigrant policies from the government level.
This research first organized (put in order) the history of the Jewish Diaspora and the history and characteristics of Israel’s repatriation. Secondly, it puts forth Israel’s immigrant policies and systems by the central government’s Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, and various programs established by the “Jewish Agency”, which has a global network. Third, it suggests policy-related implications regarding South Korea’s policies towards North Korean refugees through the characteristics possessed by Israel’s immigrant policies and systems.
Because Israel enjoys the strong support of Jewish networks based in foreign countries, repatriation and the adaptation of its repatriates have come about with ease. Within its center is the 80-year “Jewish Agency” which executes tightly knitted support policies in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption. South Korea also requires the establishment of the equivalent of the Jewish Agency’s Aliyah Center for its overseas North Korean refugees so that they may safely enter South Korea. Israel also maintains over 270 Kibbutz’s nationwide to help with the assimilation and acclimatization process of its repatriates. It may also be worthwhile to establish similar “Unification Villages (towns)” within certain focal areas of South Korea. Also, South Korea needs to actively encourage North Korean Immigrants’ participation to assimilate and acclimate themselves through its Regional Hana Center, similar to Israel’s Absorption Center, by utilizing the various infrastructure of local universities. The Center requires the participation of professionals for the development of various adaptation programs that fits North Korean immigrants. It is also necessary to retain North Korean immigrants who have received professional education at the Hana Center and at other unification related organizations and agencies.
However, here we must keep in mind that immigrant policies must be made to order for each country based on its cultural and societal background. While we should study Israel’s immigrant policies, we must also deeply consider how they can be adapted to South Korea and what effects we can expect before any integration.