Human Rights Violations in the North Korean Education System: Voices of North Korean Refugees in South Korea

Abstract

This phenomenological study examines the perspectives of North Korean refugee students studying in South Korean universities regarding human rights violations in the North Korean education system. This study focuses on the shared experiences of the participants during their past in North Korea. The participants were asked to define human rights and discuss their perceptions of human rights violations in the North Korean education system; furthermore, they shared their perceptions of human rights violations in present-day North Korea. Four types of data were collected including a demographic survey, a timeline of primary life events, a standardized, open-ended interview, and journal entries. Data analysis procedures included finding significant themes and statements related to human rights violations in the North Korean education system. In addition, primary themes emerged that related to the participants perspectives of human rights violations in present-day North Korea. These descriptions led to the overall essence of the collective experiences of the participants.