Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung stated that the experience of understanding North Korean-born citizens in South Korea will become a "special asset" to prepare for a future shared by the two Koreas.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee conveyed his message through a written address delivered by Lim Woong-soon, the second deputy director of the National Security Office, during the commemoration of the day for North Korean defectors on July 14. Lee emphasized that the experience of mutual understanding and trust in a new community would lay a foundation for social integration, ultimately serving as a valuable asset for a future where South and North Korea coexist.

Lee further articulated his vision of establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and steadily moving toward shared prosperity for both Koreas. He committed to making all-out efforts to usher in a future characterized by "coexistence and cooperation," moving beyond conflict and confrontation.

Throughout his speech, Lee consistently referred to North Korean defectors as "bukhyangmin," meaning people whose hometown is North Korea. This term was recently adopted by the unification minister, replacing the previous term "North Korean defectors," which was seen as implying discrimination and exclusion.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young highlighted at the event that it marked the first year commemorating the third anniversary of the newly adopted reference. The event, held in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, attracted around 1,000 attendees, including North Korean-born citizens and those who have assisted them in settling into South Korea.