Monthly Archives: February 2011
Young NK Refugees Thriving in Japan
Excelling in Japanese Language Studies
On February 15, LFNKR members were excited to hear that Hyun Ki* and Ae Sook* had received high level certificates in the national Japanese language certification exam, which they took back in December. Both are 26-year-old former North Korean refugees, and both reached Japan 3 years ago with the help of LFNKR.
11-Year-Old Former Refugee Plays Chopin
Entire Family Succeeding
One of LFNKR’s directors is Dr. W, a Zainichi (ethnic Korean resident of Japan). Recently he was invited to visit a former North Korean refugee family. They are the first family that LFNKR ever helped resettle in Japan. When they reached safety in Japan 11 years ago, their daughter was only one year old. In the intervening years, Dr. W has witnessed this family’s hardship and their difficulties securing work in Japan.