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Pastoral 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