Defector Kim Young-hee Named President of Korea Hana Foundation

The Unification Ministry announced that Kim Young-hee, a 61-year-old former North Korean defector, has been appointed president of the Korea Hana Foundation for a three-year period. The foundation, which supports the resettlement of defectors, has never before been led by someone with that background since its creation in 2010. Kim, originally from Kilju County in North Hamgyong Province, defected to South Korea in 2002 and has since served as a North Korean economy expert for multiple government agencies and local authorities.

The leadership vacancy followed the dismissal of former chief Cho Min-ho in February of the previous year over accusations of sexual and verbal harassment of staff. Kim previously headed the North Korea Development Institute before taking the new role. His appointment signals a notable shift in the ministry’s approach to defectors’ integration.