탈북 청소년의 낙인 현상과 대응 = A study on stigma phenomenon and response: Focusing on North Korean youth refugees

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenomenon and the response of the stigma of North Korean youth refugees. Focus group interview was used for the study. This study interviewed North Korean youth refugees who live in In-Chun city. According to this study, they experienced the stigma phenomenon such as ‘public stigma’, ‘courtesy stigma’, and ‘self stigma’. They felt ‘public stigma’ in the entrance of the Korean institutions for North Korea refugees. Moreover, They experienced ‘courtesy stigma’ from their South Korean friends and teachers. Courtesy stigma includes prejudice and discrimination. Those ‘public stigma’ and ‘courtesy stigma’ influenced that they stigmatized themselves. ‘Self stigma’ resulted devaluation, low self-estimate and degradation of themselves. In order to escape from the stigma, they hide their homeland and tried to speak standard Korean language. They also denied their identity. Familiarity with North Korean youth refugees will decrease stigma. Furthermore, public awareness of them need to be improved. To achieve accomplish this, the government have to provide education programme which reduce the prejudice and discrimination for the people.