Lived Experience of Considering Tomorrow among North Korean Refugees

Lee, Ok Ja; Kim, Hyun Kyoung

Abstract

PURPOSE: The present study was done to discover the structure of universal actual experiences 'Considering tomorrow' of health and quality of life among North Korean refugees in terms of the socio-cultural context of South Korea. METHOD: The research question was 'what is the structure of the actual experience of 'Considering tomorrow?', which was examined based on the Parse's human becoming research method. Five North Korean adult refugees were recruited from a National Reconciliation Committee in Seoul/Incheon. The data was gathered from dialogues and collected from February, 2006 to November, 2006. RESULTS: The structures found in this study were: 'hope for future life by taking responsibility and having harmony with South Koreans, by forming an integrated identification; having a chance for positive engagement, by attaining human freedom and hope; feeling respected, by assimilating self to the new world; getting freedom back, by facing a new challenge and preparing self for a new social role; overcoming cultural differences with fortified hardiness for survival, by making a decision for a life course with individual growth. In addition, conceptual integration was that 'Considering tomorrow is transforming the enabling-limiting values'. CONCLUSION: Health professionals need to know North Korean refugees' psychological difficulties, expectations of treatment, help seeking behavior, and expectations from mainstream culture. Additionally, understanding North Korean refugees' needs for reality, health education and a multi-disciplinary team approach are necessary to improve their health.