North Korean defector groups reject 'bukhyangmin' label, demand minister's resignation

Members of the Central Association of North Korean Defectors rally in front of the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Thursday to oppose the Ministry of Unification's proposed alternative term "bukhyangmin" for North Korean defectors. [Yonhap]

North Korean defectors opposed to the term "bukhyangmin" held a rally Thursday, calling for the resignation of Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young.

The Central Association of North Korean Defectors held the protest in front of the Government Complex Seoul on Thursday, according to Yonhap.

About 50 North Korean defectors, mostly members of organizations affiliated with the association, took part in the rally.

The demonstration was prompted by the submission to the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of a bill that would replace the legal term "North Korean defector" with "bukhyangmin." The bill, introduced by Rebuilding Korea Party Rep. Kim Jae-won, drew backlash from defectors over the Unification Ministry and politicians' push to adopt the new label.

Participants held signs reading "Bukhyangmin No! Talbukmin Yes!" and chanted slogans including "We are talbukmin!" and "Jeong Dong-young, step down!"

Lee Eun-taek, secretary-general of the association, who emceed the event, said the participants were people who had fled North Korea in revulsion at the Kim regime. "Talbuk — defection — is our identity," Lee said. "We reject the label 'bukhyangmin,' which denies that identity."

Lee also demanded Minister Jeong's resignation over the push to change the name against the wishes of those it concerns. "The Unification Ministry says 'talbukmin' promotes discrimination, but people who want to discriminate won't change just because the word does," Lee said.

After the rally, the Unification Ministry reiterated that its use of "bukhyangmin" goes beyond easing social settlement — it is meant to promote respect and integration.

A ministry official said the government had been listening to the diverse voices of bukhyangmin, including those of the groups that attended Thursday's rally. "The government is always open to dialogue and communication, and we hope to continue consulting through mutual, ongoing communication rather than a confrontational approach," the official said.

The ministry has used "bukhyangmin" since early this year alongside the legal term "North Korean defector," as a replacement for the more colloquial "talbukmin" and "talbukja."

Amid persistent criticism that the new label lacked broad support — including resistance from defectors themselves — Minister Jeong stepped back at last month's national audit, saying the ministry would conduct a comprehensive survey of all those concerned to gauge public opinion on the term.

husn7@heraldcorp.com