All North Korean defectors are asked about their motives for coming to the South in joint questioning sessions conducted by officials from the national intelligence agency, the Unification Ministry and other relevant ministries.
If their intentions are deemed safe, the defectors are then taken to a resettlement center where they receive 12 weeks of education and assistance in adjusting to the South.
According to the survey by the Gyeonggido Family and Women Research Institute in Suwon, 46 kilometers south of Seoul, 43.1 percent of defectors said they felt fear or anxiety during questioning because of the officials' words and actions.
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The poll was conducted between April and September on 400 defectors, aged 20 to 69, who have settled in Seoul, Incheon and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
South Korea is home to some 25,000 North Koreans who have fled their country to escape poverty and political repression there, according to official data.
The survey also showed that 44.6 percent of the defectors felt the officials looked down on them, while 21.8 percent said staff at the resettlement center treated them with disrespect or used impolite words.
After entering South Korean society, 47.7 percent said they felt discriminated against in their search for jobs, with 25.5 percent saying they are paid less than their South Korean colleagues.
Such discrimination caused 40.2 percent to want to hide their backgrounds, according to the poll.
hague@yna.co.kr
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