Dec. 23 (Asia Today) -- A record 81.2% of North Korean defectors said they are satisfied with life in South Korea, citing freedom and improved earning opportunities, according to a new survey released Tuesday by the Korea Hana Foundation.
The foundation said it surveyed 2,500 defectors ages 15 and older who entered South Korea between January 1997 and December 2024. The share reporting satisfaction rose 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier, continuing an upward trend.
Asked why they were satisfied, 41.5% cited "being able to live freely," followed by 21.6% who said they can earn income commensurate with their work. Among those dissatisfied, the most common reason was separation from family at 24.3%, followed by "excessive competition" at 22.8%, the foundation said.
The survey also showed improved labor market indicators. The economic participation rate rose to 64.8%, up 0.7 percentage points from a year earlier, while the employment rate increased 1.2 percentage points to 61.3%. The unemployment rate fell 0.9 percentage points to 5.4%, the foundation said.
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