Trends of surgical operations of North Korean defectors at a single hospital

ABSTRACT

The health and welfare of North Korean defectors is a rising interest as a large number of North Korean defectors are currently living in South Korea. Due to shortage of food provisions, intensive physical labor oriented lifestyle and inadequate medical service system, the medical environment and disease distribution is very different between North and South Korea. Furthermore the physical and mental hardships during the escape from North Korea and the difficulty of adjusting to a new society may all contribute to the health status of North Korean defectors. Recently many health concerns of North Korean defectors have been a social issue in the Korean society. There have been studies and statistics on the mental illnesses of the defectors due to the sufferings during the escape and the difficulty in adjusting into a new environment but there have been no information on the surgical aspects of the defectors. Analyzing the underlying diseases and the incidences of surgery may prepare for an improved understanding in patient care of North Korean defectors