As N. Korean defector arrivals drop, Seoul opts to merge Hanawon resettlement centers

The Unification Ministry has decided to consolidate its government-run resettlement centers for North Korean defectors into a single facility, as new arrivals have fallen sharply in recent years to well below pre-COVID-19 levels. The ministry said it is reviewing an expedited merger of the main Hanawon resettlement center in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, and its branch in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province. “We are reviewing a plan to integrate Hanawon in Anseong and the branch facility in Hwacheon