Defectors graduate from South Korean schools
- 12 years ago
Emotions ran high for these sixty-nine North Korean defectors.
They were graduating from their school in South Korea.
The academy was set up in 2006 to prepare young defectors for the huge changes they face living in a capitalist state.
Teachers also couldn't hold back their tears as they bid farewell.
The teachers knelt down and washed the graduates' feet, as a symbol of new lives for the students.
One defector who had watched changes in his country from afar felt the new leader would be nothing more than a puppet.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 20-YEAR-OLD NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR PARK JU-HYON SAYING:
"Former leader Kim Jong-il's aides will make (the current leader) Kim Jong-un a puppet. Kim Jong-un is just a member of the new leadership and he has no charisma."
Seoul's unification ministry statistics showed over 20,000 North Koreans have defected to the South to escape poverty and repression.
Sophia Soo, Reuters.
They were graduating from their school in South Korea.
The academy was set up in 2006 to prepare young defectors for the huge changes they face living in a capitalist state.
Teachers also couldn't hold back their tears as they bid farewell.
The teachers knelt down and washed the graduates' feet, as a symbol of new lives for the students.
One defector who had watched changes in his country from afar felt the new leader would be nothing more than a puppet.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 20-YEAR-OLD NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR PARK JU-HYON SAYING:
"Former leader Kim Jong-il's aides will make (the current leader) Kim Jong-un a puppet. Kim Jong-un is just a member of the new leadership and he has no charisma."
Seoul's unification ministry statistics showed over 20,000 North Koreans have defected to the South to escape poverty and repression.
Sophia Soo, Reuters.