Former defectors urge help for NK escapees at luncheon

"My heart aches for North Korean defectors arrested by Chinese police. I`m very aware of how they will be treated when sent back to the North. I`ll do everything I can to save them."

So said the mother of the first North Korean holder of a doctorate to defect to South Korea on defectors facing repatriation in China.

The elderly woman prepared lunch at a welfare center in western Seoul with six former defector friends for 100 neighbors. The meal they prepared were Pyongyang and Kaesong-style dumplings and songpyeon, a rice cake made for Chuseok (Full Moon Harvest). They wanted to show their appreciation to people who helped them adapt to South Korean life and to inform people of the plight of defectors arrested in China.

They are members of the Azalea Voluntary Group, which the Yangcheon Police Station helped establish last month. They know how it is difficult to live an ordinary life without family.

By serving food and greeting them warmly, the elderly people decided to tell the residents the sad story of defectors. Yangcheon police has been sponsoring volunteer activities for defectors since March this year, and elderly women asked for help in preparing the event. They prepared food until midnight the previous day.

One of the women told residents, "We`ve been preparing for this event for a week. Please don`t forget the North Korean defectors` situation."

Security guards and police officers helped to serve lunch.

Still another elderly woman said her daughter has been on a hunger strike in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul since last week and could only meet her via phone. "I feel sorry for my daughter but preventing the repatriation of North Korean defectors comes first," she said.

All of the volunteer women were above age 65 but did not stop serving food. One said, "The sight of them suffering is vivid in my mind. I hope they come back safe. Please show interest in this issue."

hparks@donga.com