On Thursday, South Korea’s president made a historic decision by appointing Tae Yongho, a former North Korean diplomat, as a vice minister. This appointment is the highest government responsibility ever entrusted to a North Korean defector in South Korea.
Tae Yongho’s new role is crucial for the thousands of North Korean defectors who have resettled in South Korea, showing them the growing inclusivity and opportunities available to them within the country’s political landscape.
Tae Yongho, who served as a minister at North Korea’s London Embassy before defecting to South Korea in 2016, has been appointed by President Yoon Suk Yeol as a vice minister. Tae, who left North Korea seeking a better future for his children free from the oppressive regime of Kim Jong Un, has frequently condemned the North Korean leader’s executions of officials and nuclear ambitions.
Despite being labeled “human scum” by North Korea, Tae’s unique insights and experiences have been deemed invaluable by President Yoon. Before his new role, Tae was appointed as the secretary general of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, which advises on policies for the unification of the Korean Peninsula. His appointment as vice minister is unprecedented.
Tae’s appointment follows his election to South Korea’s parliament in 2020. While other North Korean defectors have served as lawmakers, his new role as a vice minister sets a new precedent. The South Korean government hopes that Tae’s background will contribute to its unification efforts, leveraging his first-hand experience in North Korea and his work in South Korea’s parliament on foreign policy and unification issues.
The transition for many North Korean defectors to life in South Korea has been challenging, with many facing discrimination and difficulties adjusting to a capitalistic society. The South Korean government provides substantial support, including citizenship, housing, and financial assistance, to aid their integration. Despite these efforts, the adjustment process remains difficult for many defectors, particularly those from authoritarian, impoverished backgrounds.
In line with the recently declared ‘North Korean Defectors’ Day,’ President Yoon’s administration is enhancing support for defectors. While most North Korean defectors in South Korea are women from poorer northern regions who crossed the border through China, there has been a rise in defections by North Korean elites. It includes the recent high-profile defection of Ri Il Kyu, a political affairs counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba, who arrived in South Korea last November.
