J Korean Acad Nurs.  2020 Feb;50(1):39-51. 10.4040/jkan.2020.50.1.39.

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Employment of Married North Korean Women Defectors Rearing Children

• Cho HM
• Choi EJ

• KMID: 2471250
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2020.50.1.39

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to understand the experiences of married North Korean women's child-rearing, working lives, and their home and work environment in depth.
METHODS
This study adopted van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological method to qualitatively analyze data. The participants were 8 married North Korean women defectors. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations from July 4 to August 20, 2018.
RESULTS
Nine essential themes emerged: more personal challenges after overcoming a life-threatening crisis; hopes of firmly settling in this land; the wound from the north, which chased them here; a body that becomes stronger through hardship; being stuck in a past full of anxiety and pain; the present is full of hope; hope for the future; sense of alienation from coworkers that cannot be overcome; and sense of power to endure an exhausting work life.
CONCLUSION
This study provided a broader understanding of the life and experiences of married women from North Korea. It highlights the need for nurses to recognize their importance in nursing care. The study also suggests that academic and practical approaches for nursing, and basic data for a nursing intervention for married women from North Korea be provided. The study findings can be used as a basis for preparing a national policy that will help North Korean defectors to find employment and gain stability.

Keyword

Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Women; Employment; Qualitative Research

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Child*
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Emigrants and Immigrants
Employment*
Female
Hermeneutics*
Hope
Humans
Methods
Nursing
Nursing Care
Qualitative Research
Wounds and Injuries

Reference

1. Ministry of Unification. 2019 North Korean refugees’ entry status [Internet]. Seoul: Ministry of Unification;2019. [cited 2019Dec 31]. Available from:. https://www.unikorea.go.kr/unikorea/business/NKDefectorsPolicy/status/lately/.

2. Ministry of Unification. 2019 policy for North Korean refugees [Internet]. Seoul: Ministry of Unification;2019. [cited 2019 Dec 31]. Available from:. https://www.data.go.kr/data-set/15019661/fileData.do.

3. Chae KH. The adaptation status of North Korean defectors to South Korean society and its effect on their problem solving ability. Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial Cooperation Society. 2017; 18(10):524–530. https://doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2017.18.10.524.

4. Kang CY. A study on the life situation of North Korean female refugees in China. Journal of Women’s Studies. 2004; 19:59–77.

5. Kim TH, No CY. North Korean female defectors’ voices: Hermeneutical phenomenological analysis of the lived experiences in China. Family and Environment Research. 2003; 41(8):1–17.

6. Cho YA, Jeon WT. A qualitative study of North Korea women defectors’ adaptation to South Korean life. The Korean Journal of Woman Psychology. 2005; 10(1):17–35.

7. Han IY, Ku HJ, Oh SK. A study on sex knowledge among North Korean female defectors. The Korean Journal of Woman Psychology. 2010; 15(1):87–102. https://doi.org/10.18205/kpa.2010.15.1.005.

8. Park SY. Reconstruction of life history of female North Korean defector exodus from self-reliance (Juche) ideology to the il- lusion of capitalism. Korean Journal of Qualitative Research in Social Welfare. 2017; 11(2):5–30.

9. Kim HK. Lived experience of resilience for North Korean refugee woman who has lived in North Korea and China. Gender and Culture. 2011; 4(2):7–36.

10. Lee EJ. A qualitative study on female North Korean defectors’ experience of vocational education and job-seeking strategies. Korea Science and Art Forum. 2017; 27:173–189. https://doi.org/10.17548/ksaf.2017.01.27.173.

11. Jun MH. An autobiographical–narrative analysis of an North Korean woman’s adaption process: Marginality to creative core. Korean Journal of Christian Counseling. 2017; 28(3):145–176. https://doi.org/10.23909/KJCC.2017.08.28.3.145.

12. Cho YA. The experiences of child reunification among North Korean women in South Korea. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy. 2012; 24(1):197–222.

13. Han SO, Lee GS. The meaning and experience of marriage between North Korean female defector and South Korean man. Journal of Women’s Studies. 2014; 24(2):197–233.

14. Jang JE, Choi JS. Phenomenological study on the parenting experience of North Korean female defectors with adolescent children. Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies. 2015; 46(4):375–419. https://doi.org/10.16999/kasws.2015.46.4.375.

15. Yang MS. Lee DH. Study on life history of an elderly female North Korean defector. The Journal of the Korea Contents Association. 2017; 17(10):120–139. https://doi.org/10.5392/JKCA.2017.17.10.120.

16. Lee SP, Kouh HJ. Building of group program for female sae-teomin’s early settlement. Journal of Digital Convergence. 2014; 12(1):325–331. https://doi.org/10.14400/JDPM.2014.12.1.325.

17. Jang MS, Lee AR. A study on the actual conditions and support policy strategies for the North Korean women defectors in Seoul. Seoul: Seoul Foundation of Women & Family Research;2009. Dec. Report No.: 2009-Policy Development-028.

18. Hong SA. The North Korean female defectors and their settle- ment tasks: From the family perspective. The Korean Journal of Unification Affairs. 2013; 25(2):173–205.

19. van Manen M. Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. Albany (NY): State University of New York Press;1990. p. 1–173.

20. Kang YW, Lim CH, Lee HC. North Korean refugees’ life in South Korea: Christian educational approaches. A Journal of Christian Education in Korea. 2010; 24:459–490. https://doi.org/10.17968/jcek.2010.24.014.

21. Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park (CA): Sage;1985. p. 289–331.

22. Kim JT, Kim KW, Moon BG. A study on the adaptation and barriers of North Korean refugees in South Korean workplace. Multiculture and Peace. 2016; 10(2):29–52. https://doi.org/10.22446/mnpisk.2016.10.2.002.

23. Lee JM, Hwang SY. Identifying factors affecting the adaptation of North Korean refugees in South Korea. Social Welfare Policy. 2008; 33(1):61–84. https://doi.org/10.15855/swp.2008.33.61.

24. Cho YA, Jeun WT, Yu JJ, Um JS. Predictors of depression among North Korean defectors: A 3-year follow-up study. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy. 2005; 17(2):467–484.

25. Han IY. Depressive traits of North Korean defectors. Mental Health and Social Work. 2001; 11:78–94.

26. Hong NM, Lee IJ, Kim GE, Park GH, Choi YH. Study on the experience of defecting North Korea women in South Korea: Grounded theory. Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies. 2010; 41(1):307–343. https://doi.org/10.16999/kasws.2010.41.1.307.

27. Rhee YS, Koo HW, Han IY. Systematic reviews of North Korean refugees: Women’s distinguishable experience. The Korean Journal of Unification Affairs. 2011; 23(2):147–194.

28. Lee KJ, Kim JY, Lee KH, Kim YM, Yang MJ, Choi YS, et al. A study on the adaptation and depression of North Korean de-fectors to the South Korean society. Journal of the Nursing Academic Association of Ewha Womans University. 2007; 41:14–22.