The authors interviewed with 21 North Korean defectors who defected from North Korea in 1990-
1995 and investigated their adjustment to South Korean society. The main categories of their problems in
adjustment were a poor social network, financial difficulties, problems in social competency,
problems resulting from their indoctrinated way of thinking, some psychologicaal problems such as
excessiveself-consciousness and guilty feelings, and some social-structural problems such as poor
education system in the government shelter. But, generally speaking, inspite of their problems, they
have adjusted to South Korea society rather successfully. In the view of short term adjustment, the
reasons for their success were thought to be the characteristics and merits of a capitalistic economy;
their compliant personalities resulting from an educational system that emphasized obedience to
authority and Kim Il Sung;and the dualism of North Korean life. Four points were discussed to
assist a successful adjustment in the long term;Fostering of the ability to make individual choices
with internal principles, overcoming a judgemental, moralizing attitude, overcoming of overfull
thought-centered attitude and rebounding thought-lacking attitude, overcoming the effect of negative
collectivism. Three things have been suggested to foster their healthy adjustment;development and
running of resocialization program for the each period of settlement;building up a network of
accessible support organizations who work for the adjustment of defectors;systemic studies of North
Korean people and defectors for the successful adjustment to unified Korean society. It is said that the
division of Korean people has been the most tragic thing happen to Korea. But there can be a greater
tragedy and that would be the unification of land but not the unification of people. Failure to
understand the real problems of the North Korean population can potentially produce conflicts and
confusion which can only lead to further redivision and greater tragedy. It is very important to study
the adjustment to problems of North Korean defectors to help prepare for the unification of the
Korean people