Table Of ContentPastoral Care for North Korean Refugees and
a Geopolitical Approach to Practical Theology: A Qualitative Study
A Dissertation
Presented to
The Faculty of the
Claremont School of Theology
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
By
Shannon Choi Kim
May 2011
©2011
Shannon Choi Kim
All Rights Reserved
This Dissertation, written by
Shannon Choi Kim
under the direction of her Faculty Committee and approved by its members,
has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of
Claremont School of Theology
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Faculty Committee:
K. Samuel Lee, Chairperson
Kathleen J. Greider
Richard Amesbury
Interim Academic Dean: Philip Clayton
May 2011
ABSTRACT
Pastoral Care for North Korean Refugees and
A Geopolitical Approach to Practical Theology: A Qualitative Study
by
Shannon Choi Kim
Communist North Korea (NK), which claims that its identifying characteristic is
independence from foreign influence, threatens the lives and security of its people within
its own borders as well as in other countries. Even though many countries provided
unconditional humanitarian aid to help its suffering citizens, the NK government refuses
to share that aid with its people, using it instead to further its militaristic agenda. The
people have experienced years of trauma and disaster as they have been exposed to an
environment in which starvation, death and ongoing political manipulation and
oppression do not cease. Many North Koreans (NKs) have fled their country as their only
way to survive, and they wander around China and certain other countries before finally
finding their way to South Korea (SK). On this journey, because of complications of
international geopolitics, the escaped NKs receive no protection. Instead, they are
exposed to more traumas and constant fear of being repatriated to NK where
concentration camps wait for them.
Unfortunately, once they are in SK, even though their legal status assures them
the safety of being citizens of SK, for complicated geopolitical reasons, they are offered
no adequate opportunity to recover from past traumas, but now join the ranks of the
marginalized "others" within SK society. Thus, they experience difficulty in adjustment
and in beginning new lives with any sense of equality as South Koreans (SKs).
This study aims to make the voices and experiences of the marginalized North
Korean Refugees (NKRs) to be heard or to be brought to the surface. This study also
intends to create a space in SK in which NKRs can have better experiences as they go
through healing and find some space in which they can be understood by SKs. An NKR
group, Saeteo church, in SK agreed to be the research partner and cooperated by
participating in a written survey and interviews. Their experiences from NK and China to
SK are explored and geopolitical and historical information is incorporated to explain the
background of NKRs' experiences. Based on this information, suggestions are made of
methods that would facilitate NKRs healing from their traumatic experiences from the
past and their negative experiences in the present. This study also presents several
suggestions that would address the geopolitical factors in a way that would improve the
ability of NKRs and SKs to understand each other.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. Preparing for North Korean Refugees
Phenomenon of Interest 1
Location of the Researcher in Dealing with the Issues of NKRs in SK 6
Justification for Studying the Phenomenon 10
Phenomenon Discussed within Specific Context 12
Assumptions, Biases and Perceptions Related to the Inquiries into the
Phenomenon 14
Qualitative Research Method Chosen with Justification of Its Potential 15
Relevance to Discipline 17
Chapter Outline 20
II. The Method of Inquiry
Aim 23
Gaining Access 24
Setting 25
General Procedures 27
Human Subject Consideration 30
Research Partners 31
Strength and Limitations of This Study 37
n
III. Findings of the Inquiry 40
1. North Korea
Rigid Social Ranking and Privileges for Communist Party Members 41
Oppression due to Social Ranking 42
Deprivation of Social Ranking and Deportation 43
Required Absolute Obedience to the Trinity of Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il and
The Communist Party 44
Political Suppression Strategies 45
Propaganda of North Korean Government for the Control of North Korean
Citizens 46
Realization of Hopelessness Regarding Utopia 48
Unceasing Death of Family Members and Neighbors 49
Life without Water System and Electricity 51
Coping Strategies in Dire Situation of North Korea 52
China Connection 53
Escaping North Korea 54
2. China
Becoming Target of Human Trafficking 56
Living in Psychological Isolation 57
Experience of Oppression as Illegal Immigrants in China 58
Experience of Repatriation to North Korea 59
Surviving in Concentration Camp in North Korea 60
Accessing South Korean Media as Coping Strategy 62
iii
Encounter of Christian Church 62
Believing in Prayer as Panacea 63
Broker's Role in Escaping to South Korea 64
Suffering on the Way to South Korea 65
3. South Korea
Beginning Life in South Korea 67
Language Barrier after Resettlement Orientation 68
Lack of Social Support 69
Homesickness 70
Unresolved Emotional and Psychological Issues from the Past 71
Difficulty with Acculturation Process 73
Mistrust among North Korean Refugees 74
Positive Mindset as a Coping Strategy 75
Maintaining Family Connection in NK as a Coping Method 76
Prayer as a Coping Strategy 78
Experiencing of Divine Intervention Even before Becoming Christians 78
Church as Indoctrination Group 80
Saeteo Church as Support Network 81
Working toward Unification as Newly Found Mission 82
North Korean Refugees Confronting North Korean Indoctrination 83
What North Korean Refugees Want 85
Conclusion 86
IV
IV. Geopolitical History of Korea and North Korean Refugees 88
Changed Geopolitical Dynamics by Foreign Influences before Japanese
Colonialism 89
Influence of Christian Mission and Nationalist Movement on the Geopolitics
of Korea 91
Changed Geopolitics under Colonial Japan (1905-1948) 94
Geopolitics of North Korea after Independence from Japanese Colonialism. 102
Geopolitics of South Korea after Independence from Japanese Colonialism.l 18
Conclusion 135
V. Pastoral Care for NKRs 138
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of NKR 140
Depression of NKR 143
Relevance between Spirituality and Mental Health 146
Current Pastoral Care Practice in the Church 148
NKR Healing from the Concept of Attachment and Loss 153
Logotherapeutic Approach with NKRs 159
Group Work with NKRs 163
Logotherapy for NKR Group 168
Session 1: Introduction and Orientation 169
Session 2: Confidentiality and Social Support 170
Session 3: Remembering Loss and Bereavement 171
Session 4: Awareness of Location of Self 173
v
Session 5: Reactivating Power of Will 174
Session 6: Liberation from Unwanted Gains 175
Session 7: Freedom and Responsibility 176
Session 8: What Life Expects from Me 177
Conclusion 178
VI. A Geopolitical Approach to Practical Theology 179
Practical Theology for NKRs 180
Geopolitics for NKRs 183
Liberation Theology for NKRs 186
South Korean Geopolitics Experienced by North Korean Refugees
Prejudice 189
Language of NKRs 196
Name and Identity of NKRs 199
SK Church and North Korean Refugees 203
Hermeneutics of Prejudice toward North Korean Refugees from Geopolitical
Perspective 205
North Korean Refugees' Language Space 209
Theological Concepts from Practical and Liberation Theology 214
Image of God for North Korean Refugees 205
The Son, Crucified God for North Korean Refugees 219
The Holy Spirit, The Spirit of God for North Korean Refugees 224
Suggestions for South Koreans 229
vi
