President Yoon attends the 1st North Korean Defectors' Day Ceremony

President Yoon attended the ‘1st North Korean Defector’s Day Ceremony’ on July 14 and expressed respect and encouragement to 34,000 North Korean defectors living in South Korea. He said the North Korean defectors' sublime journey to freedom made him realize how much the freedom we enjoy can change human destiny. He criticized the North Korean regime's inhumane behavior, commemorated those who lost their lives in the defection process, and pledged to do everything possible to ensure that all North Koreans who have fled the country are welcomed into the arms of South Korea.

He said he would significantly improve their initial resettlement grants, help them build assets, and institutionalize child care and support for women. He also said he would provide incentives, such as tax credits, for companies that hire North Koreans so they can get good jobs in the private sector. The event included dream stories told by North Korean refugees (“Dreaming”), a presentation of North Korean refugees' resolutions for reunification (“Dreaming of Unification”), and a choral performance by South Korean and North Korean youth.

North Korean defector youth baseball team “Challengers” to visit US

President Yun encouraged the Challengers, a youth baseball team for North Korean defectors, to embrace freedom and challenge. The Challengers is the first baseball team for North Korean defectors in South Korea, founded in 2018, and held a ceremony with the slogan “Home Run to Freedom. The entire squad - 12 players, two coaches, and the manager - took the stage one by one, striking their own poses to greet the guests. “Through baseball, the North Korean youth were able to learn the rules, socialize with new friends, and build a solid team. We wish them all the best for the future and thank the President for making this possible” said the manager. President Yoon said “Congratulations to the Challengers on their trip to the United States. Baseball is often associated with freedom. Freedom is all about hard work and following the rules, and baseball is similar in that players work hard at the game and value the rules. I want the Challengers to be a team that can develop over the long term.”