Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.50(1) > 1143145

TOOLS
Cho and Choi: Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Employment of Married North Korean Women Defectors Rearing Children
Original Article

J Korean Acad Nurs 2020;50(1):39-51.

Published online: 17 January 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2020.50.1.39

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

Hyun Mee Cho1, 2, Eun Joung Choi2,

1Department of Nursing, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan

2College of Nursing, Kosin University, Busan, Korea

Address reprint requests to : Choi, Eun Joung College of Nursing, Kosin University, 262 Gamcheon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 49267, Korea, Tel: +82-51-990-3977 Fax: +82-51-990-3970 E-mail: jacob7410@kosin.ac.kr

Received 21 March 2019       Revised 18 November 2019       Accepted 19 January 2020

Copyright © 2020 Korean Society of Nursing Science

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

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.

Keywords: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Women, Employment, Qualitative Research

REFERENCES

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.
crossref
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.
crossref
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.

Table 1.
Participants’ Characteristics
ID Age† Residence period† No. of children Marital Status Occupation Religion
P1 45 12 2 Married Public health Christian
P2 43 12 2 Married Public health Christian
P3 39 6 1 Married Manual labor None
P4 28 5 2 Married Manual labor Christian
P5 31 5 1 Widowed Manual labor None
P6 46 7 3 Widowed Manual labor Christian
P7 46 7 1 Married Manual labor Christian
P8 38 8 2 Widowed Manual labor None

† Year.

Table 2.
The Experiences of Employment of Married North Korean Women Defectors Rearing Children
Dimension Essential Themes Themes
Lived space More personal challenges after overcoming a life- High employment barriers
threatening crisis Job problems because of prejudice
A sense of fear in the workplace
The occupation in North Korea is useless in South Korea
A sense of self-pity about unfair treatment
Hopes to firmly settle in this land A persistent desire to gain our children’s confidence
Working with a sense of purpose to obtain a solid foundation
Lived body The wound from the north, which has chased me here Continuing to work while suppressing pain that is not understood
The wound of childbirth is a stumbling block in life
A body that becomes stronger through hardship Overcoming exhaustion as a mother
Work until exhaustion to escape poverty
Lived time Being stuck in a past full of anxiety and pain Encounter with the past that must endure
Memories of pain that are replayed relentlessly
The present is full of hope Diligently striving not to burden our children
Satisfaction with the rewards and freedoms that result from hard work
A hope for national policies that eliminate prejudice and discrimination
A hope for the future Dreams of becoming a citizen in harmony with everyone
Pledging to be a bridge for a unified generation
Lived others A sense of alienation from coworkers that cannot be Confusion at work due to an unfamiliar work environment
overcome Restraint about identity as a person who abandoned the family
Grief over being a foreigner who is disrespected and ignored at work
A sense of power to endure an exhausting work life Relying on a helping hand
The word “mom” inducing positive and negative emotions
Depending on religion with a sense of desperation
TOOLS
Similar articles