South Korea to Merge Hanawon Defector Centers as North Korean Arrivals Plummet by Over 90%

The number of North Koreans seeking refuge in the South has fallen off a cliff. In response, South Korea's unification ministry announced on Friday it plans to merge its main resettlement facilities for defectors next year. The move is a stark reflection of Pyongyang's tightened grip on its borders since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Integration for 'Efficient Operations'

The unification ministry plans to integrate the main Hanawon center in Anseong, which supports female defectors, with its branch in Hwacheon for male defectors. "The government is reviewing measures to integrate those two facilities and redeploy personnel to ensure efficient operations and implement them as soon as possible," Chang Yoon-jeong, the ministry's deputy spokesperson, said at a press briefing.

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According to Yonhap News, the integration plan was part of the ministry's 2026 policy plan, which was reported to President Lee Jae Myung last week.

A Drastic Drop in Numbers

The decision is driven by a dramatic decline in North Korean defectors arriving in the South. The number peaked at 2,914 in 2009 but fell to 1,047 by 2019. Since Pyongyang sealed its borders in 2020 to block the pandemic, arrivals have plunged, dropping to just 229 that year. The numbers have failed to recover, with only 236 defectors recorded last year.