Yongin City Hosts 'One Heart' Event for North Korean Defectors

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] North Korean defectors residing in Yongin City gathered together to create precious memories.

On the 27th, the 'North Korean Defectors One Heart Event' was held at Mirinae Resort in Yangpyeong County.

The event was organized by the Yongin City Council of the Democratic Peace and Unification Advisory Conference to help North Korean defectors relieve mental stress experienced during the settlement process and strengthen networks among residents.

Sixty North Korean defectors stabilized their mind and body through five-sense therapy utilizing fragrance, sound, meditation, and color, and had a healing experience through the Aroma Brain Hue program that relaxed their stiffened bodies using small tools.

Seok Jong-seop, Chairman of the Yongin City Council of the Democratic Peace and Unification Advisory Conference, said, "I hope that through the One Heart Event, North Korean defectors will feel the warm affection of their neighbors and integrate smoothly into the local community," and added, "We will continue to make efforts for the smooth settlement of North Korean defectors going forward."

Mayor Baek Gun-ki of Yongin City said, "I hope today's event becomes an opportunity to feel mental ease and healing even briefly amid busy daily life," and stated, "So that North Korean defectors do not feel excluded as members of Yongin City, we will expand policies for settlement and support."

Meanwhile, the city has established close cooperation with private organizations and relevant agencies including the Yongin City Council of the Democratic Peace and Unification Advisory Conference, the Yongin Regional Council for Support of North Korean Defectors, Gyeonggi Eastern Hana Center, Yongin East and West Police Stations, and Yongin Severance Hospital, and is helping North Korean defectors settle stably through rental apartment management fee support, cultural experience events, and psychological counseling services.

The Yongin City Council of the Democratic Peace and Unification Advisory Conference will also hold 'Kimjang Sharing with North Korean Defectors' on the 30th and plans to distribute kimchi to 100 households of North Korean defectors in the area.
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