Seoul: The unification ministry announced it is contemplating a change to the South Korean term used for North Korean defectors. The ministry noted that the current term, which emphasizes their escape from the North, carries a negative connotation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry has commissioned a study to explore renaming the Korean term "talbukmin," aiming to select a new name by the end of this year. The process will involve gathering opinions from the defectors themselves. The term "bukhyangmin," meaning people who hail from North Korea, is believed to be the most favored choice among defectors.

A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the change is being considered to aid defectors in better resettling in the South and to promote social integration. A survey conducted by the Korea Institute for National Unification last year indicated that 59 percent of North Korean defectors support a change in the terminology used to describe them.

In the first half of 2025, the number of North Korean defectors arriving in South Korea reached 96, bringing the total to 34,410, as reported by the ministry.