Exploring the Social Adaptation Experiences of Disabled North Korean Refugees in South Korea through Narrative Inquiry

Background: North Korean refugees (NKRs) face multifaceted challenges in adapting to South Korean society, including issues related to work-life balance, parenting, employment, accent, and economic hardship. These difficulties intensify when individuals also live with disabilities. Although both persons with disabilities and NKRs are eligible for social services in South Korea, Disabled North Korean Refugees (DNKRs) experience heightened vulnerabilities due to their intersecting identities. As of December 2024, the South Korean Ministry of Unification reported 34,314 NKRs; however, available statistics provide only gender distribution, making it difficult to determine how many are DNKRs. While prior studies have examined NKRs’ perceptions of disability policies in North Korea, few studies have examined DNKRs with lived experiences in both Koreas, especially regarding long-term social adaptation. This study aims to address this gap by exploring their lived experiences in depth. Given the shared ethnic and linguistic heritage between North and South Koreans, it is important to enhance DNKRs’ sense of belonging to South Korean society and develop more effective and responsive support systems. This study explores the social adaptation of DNKRs living at the intersection of disability and refugee status, aiming to support their integration.

Methods: A qualitative research approach using narrative inquiry, which emphasizes how individuals share life experiences through storytelling. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling because the target population is considered hard to reach. A total of three DNKRs aged 19 and older, formally diagnosed with disabilities in South Korea, participated in in-depth interviews. Each face-to-face interview lasted 120 to 180 minutes and was recorded and transcribed verbatim with consent. The interviews explored life experiences in both Koreas. Data were analyzed by identifying key phrases, developing themes, and synthesizing narratives. Member checking ensured credibility.

Results: Three major narrative themes emerged from the analysis. The first, “Marginalization,” described participants’ early life in North Korea, characterized by systemic neglect and social exclusion due to their disabilities. The second, “Am I a Stranger Here?” captured participants’ initial experiences in South Korea, highlighting structural barriers, identity confusion, and uncertainty. This phase revealed a continued sense of uncertainty and marginalization. The third, “The New Me,” explored how participants reconstruct identity by navigating their intersecting statuses and forming a sense of belonging.

Conclusion: The findings illustrate the unique and complex challenges faced by DNKRs due to their intersecting identities. Tangible (e.g., physical impairments) and intangible barriers (e.g., cultural adaptation, lack of recognize, limited access to services,) hinder integration. In addition, identifiable speech accents, prevailing stereotypes about NKRs, and implicit discrimination against people with disabilities further hinder their adaptation to life in South Korea. South Korea’s current social policies tend to treat disability and NKRs status separately, overlooking the compounded vulnerabilities faced by DNKRs. As a result, these individuals often fall through the cracks of existing support systems. Further research is needed to examine their adaptation in specific areas such as employment, health care, and mental health, while also exploring targeted and integrative interventions to meet their unique needs and promote long-term well-being and social integration.