Health Inequities in North Korean Refugees: The Role of Socioeconomic Influences

By
Hanul Park
Minjae Choi
Sempungu Joshua Kirabo
In Bae Sohn
Joon Hee Han
Okha Ryu
Ji Hye Cheon
Yo Han Lee
July 10, 2026

Jama Network Open

Overview

This study investigates mental health disparities among North Korean refugee youths in South Korea compared to their South Korean peers, emphasizing the role of structural determinants.

Background

Understanding health inequities is crucial for addressing the needs of minoritized populations. North Korean refugee youths represent a unique case study due to their immediate citizenship and shared institutional environment with South Korean peers, yet they experience significant mental health challenges. This study aims to quantify these disparities.

Data Highlights

This study analyzed data from 876,693 adolescents from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS) from 2011 to 2024, focusing on North Korean refugee youths (NKRY) and their South Korean peers.

Key Findings

North Korean refugee youths (NKRY) account for less than 0.1% of the total South Korean population.
NKRY are recognized as nationals and granted full citizenship upon arrival in South Korea.
Despite shared citizenship, NKRY experience significant mental health disparities compared to South Korean-origin youths (SKY).
Conventional socioeconomic factors do not fully explain the mental health outcomes of NKRY.
Structural determinants such as trauma from migration and intergenerational effects of political repression contribute to health disparities.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should consider the unique mental health challenges faced by North Korean refugee youths.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the importance of considering structural determinants when addressing mental health disparities among North Korean refugees in South Korea.

Health Inequities in North Korean Refugees: The Role of Socioeconomic Influences